LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Ilpjt Stqnjrigfft f$n. 

Shelf JL 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 









iWo^Jrr 



Its History — Authentic, Legendary and Pre-historic, 
in prose and poetry. 



BY J. M. LE COUNT. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



HARTFORD, WIS.: 

J. M. Le Count & Son, Printers and Publishers. 

1891. 



SCT 28 

327*1 



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Entered "according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891, by 

J. M. I.E COUNT, Hartford, Wis. 
In the office of the Eibrarian of Congress, in Washington. 



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^ I — 

I o the Reverend N. M. Zimmer, and to his suc- 
cessors, who may hereafter have in their charge 
the property, and the preservation and safe keeping 
of the early records of Holy Hill, this book is very 
respectfully dedicated — 

THE AUTHOR. 



"i^pr 



INTRODUCTION. 

In preparing this little volume for its readers the 
author has labored to give a correct and reliable de- 
scription, and at the same time, a concise and authen- 
tic history of what is locally and popularly known 
in the eastern portion of Wisconsin as Holy Hill. 
Though but a small spot within the great universe 
(only forty acres) yet it has a name and a notoriety 
of no small importance. It seems to be one of earth's 
favored precincts; one which the bountiful hand of 
nature has profusely decorated with rare and charm- 
ing rural scenery; a retreat for the weary; a spot 
divinely blest, the hallowed name and romantic beau- 
ties of which are destined to endure to the uttermost 
limits of time. 

All that pertains to the hill, geographically, has 
been gathered by careful research, observation and 
personal survey, while the distances and altitudes 
given are from actual measurements taken under the 
personal supervision of the writer. That portion 
which relates to its earliest known history, and down 
to the present time, has been transcribed from well 
authenticated records, and the whole compiled by 
one who, for the past forty years, has dwelt approxi- 
mately within the shadow of the hill. 

Whatever is traditional, or merely hear-say, is 
treated under such especial headings, that none may 
confound the things that are real, or facts, with 
those that may admit of contradiction and dis- 
pute. Pertaining to such are the "pre-historic" and 
"traditional" historv of the hill. There will also be 



10 HOLY HILL. 

found an account of the "Hermit," a strange and 
odd personage, who, for many years, inhabited a 
rude dwelling in a deep ravine in the hill to the north, 
and to whose presence there much of the early noto- 
riety^ of the hill was indebted . 

A portion of the work will be devoted to "mira- 
cles" or " faith cures," which, are said, to have been 
wrought from time to time by penitent prayer upon 
this consecrated ground. Many of them are given 
as related to the writer by persons of high respecta- 
bility, and who are apparently sincere in their con- 
victions and firm in their belief. Not a few, but many 
wonderful cures are vouched for by those who repose 
implicit faith and confidence in the efficacy of sincere 
repentance and earnest prayer. 

In treating of religion, which is by far the most 
interesting and attractive attribute of the hill, the 
writer has endeavored to bestow that deference and 
respect which are due to all who profess Christianity 
and especially to those who teach the doctrines of 
Christ. 

The illustrations are all from original photo- 
graphs, taken by a competent artist and transferred 
totype, by the half toned process, by skillful en- 
gravers. They are faithful representations of the 
scenes they portray. 

The author, being an admirer of poetry, and some- 
what given to rhyming himself, has introduced 
several poems of his own composition; not that he 
claims for them any especial merit, but simply for 
the reason, that they have the element of originality 
and may serve to relieve the monotony of lengthy 
prose readings. 



Holy Mill. 



LAPHAM'S RANGE. 



I n entering upon this work it may be well to give 
* a brief description of the hill and its surroundings 
at the outset, that those unacquainted with the 
locality, as well as the general reader, may form a 
more correct idea of the formation of the country in 
which those things of which we are about to speak 
exist. 

Whoever has carefully studied the topography of 
Wisconsin must have familiarized himself with the 
very prominent range of hills and lakes located well 
to the eastern part of the state. This miniature, 
though well defined mountainous range, has been 
called by some of the early historians of the state, 
Lapham's Range, in honor of the late Increase A. 
Lapham, formerly geologist of the state, and who 
made a careful survey and study of this extended 
chain of hills and lakes while Wisconsin was yet a 
territory. 



12 HOLY HILL. 

This range starts out from the most northern 
extremity of Door county, a peninsula lying between 
Lake Michigan and Green Bay, and extends in a 
southwesterly direction for quite two hundred miles, 
terminating with the four beautiful lakes at Madison, 
Dane county. 

The hills of this continuous range assume such 
grand proportions in many places as almost to 
entitle them to the name of mountains, and especially 
is this true in Washington count}'. In the towns of 
Erin, Richfield, Polk and Hartford, the line is more 
marked, the hills more numerous, are higher and 
more picturesque than in any other portion of the 
entire range. In the eastern part of Erin there is a 
hill, and which forms the central object of this sketch, 
which for size, grandeur and local notoriety far out- 
ranks its fellows in all the lengthy line. It towers 
high above the surrounding hills and country, form- 
ing a conspicuous land-mark that ma}- be seen for a 
distance of fifteen miles in any direction on a clear day. 

Close up to the foot of the hills, and sometimes, as 
we find, nestling between them, are many beautiful 
lakes of clear cold water. These are fed by numerous 
springs that have their source in fountains at the 
base and on either side of the hills, though by far the 
greater number and more noted springs are found 
along the western slope of the range. The lakes are 
well stocked with many varieties offish, furnishing 
abundant sport to the disciples of Isaac Walton, in 
the season. 

The soil among the hills is composed of a yellow- 
ish mixture of a heavy clay and loam, though in the 
valleys it consists of a rich, black alluvial deposit, 



LAPHAM'S RANGE. 13 

sediment that has been washed from the hillsides for 
ages past. The hills are simply huge deposits of clay 
and lime gravel with occasional strata of fine build- 
ing sand. Both in the valleys and upon the hills an 
abundance of large boulders is found, and often 
some weighing a ton are met with, even on the pin- 
nacles of the highest hills. The hillsides and valleys 
were originally covered with a heavy growth of 
hard wood timber, the greater part of which has 
been cut away to give place for cultivation. The 
soil is quite productive and many fine farms and 
thrifty farmers are found among the hills. The 
scenes that presents itself to the tourist on entering 
these hills is picturesque and romantic in a high 
degree; one of ever varying rural beauty that is 
enchanting and solacing to the lover of quietude, and 
especially, as here, when combined with Nature's wild 
and majestic haunts. 

In 1881 the author of this book wrote a serial 
poem entiled "the Hermit of Holy Hill," the first 
canto of which was published in the West Bend 
Times the same summer. As we shall quote some 
passages from the poem in this work, we reproduce 
here that portion descriptive of the foregoing chapter. 




LAPHAM'S RANGE. 
(from the hermit of holy hill) 

Within Wisconsin's broad domain, 

There is a range of hills and lakes, 
That from Door count}- down to Dane, 

Its course we trace which seldom breaks. 
A thousand hills along this line 

Unite in one extended row, 
Where silv'ry lakes in beauty shine, 

Like mirrors in the vales below. 

A thousand rip 'ling springs out-gush 

Their waters cold and pure, 
And in a hurried race they rush, 

Safe to some lake secure. 
A hundred streams on either side 

Start from this lengthy chain, 
And wander on by journeys wide; 
Though opposite, they seek the tide 

Of ocean's level main. 

No lofty range of mountains these, 
Like to the Alps or Pyrenees, 
WTiose snow capped summits to the eye 
Appear like icebergs on the sky. 
Ours are but hills, yet are we sure 
They're mountains still in miniature. 
For from a distance they appear 

Like some vast mountain range; 
Their stimmits seem to linger near, 

And with clouds to interchange. 



LAPHAM'S RANGE. 15 

What more of grandeur theirs possess 

In height or vast extent, 
Is equaled here by loveliness, 

With Nature's beauties blent. 
Here rare and fragrant flowers blush , 

Shedding their sweet perfume, 
While fruited vine and hawthorn bush, 

The landscape doth illume. 

The whole vaste range one garden lies, 

Where gorgeous scenes expand, 
And seems to be earth's paradise, 

By Heavenly wisdom planned: 
A paradise where those who roam, 

Would dwell while life is given, 
And only quit this rural home 

For an exchange with Heaven. 






DESCRIPTION OF THE HILL. 



I — | oly Hill is situated, geographically, in latitude 
^ * forty-three degrees and eighteen minutes north, 
and in longitude, eleven degrees and thirteen minutes 
west from Washington. The hill embraces forty 
acres of land according to government survey; being 
described in the survey book of Wisconsin, as the 
southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 
fourteen, in township No. nine north, (Erin) and in 
Range No. eighteen east of the principal meridian. 
The entire forty acre tract is one grand assemblage 
of lofty hills and peaks, piled together fantastically 
and promiscuously as to size and height. They are 
huddled closely together and in many instances only 
separated by narrow and deep ravines. The surface 
of the whole tract is so rough and uneven that no 
one acre entire could be cultivated with any degree 
of profit. The greatest altitude attained by am^ one 
of the group of hills is that known as Holy Hill, 
though that name is commonly applied to the whole 
forty acres. This grand peak rises to a height of two 




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DESCRIPTION OF THE HILL. 1 9 

hundred and eighty-nine feet above its base; eight 
hundred and twenty-seven feet above the surface 
level of lake Michigan and fourteen hundred and nine 
feet above the level of the sea. It is the highest 
point of land in eastern Wisconsin and the second 
highest in the state; one peak of the Blue Mounds 
in Dane county being seventeen hundred and twenty- 
nine feet above the sea level. 

Here the range of hills extends through the town 
of Erin on a line nearly north and south, its deviation 
being a little to the east of north after leaving the 
south township line. It is continuous and unbroken 
throughout its whole extent; the different elevations 
showing separate outlines standing like so many 
sugar loaves ranged along the line. From whichever 
direction one approaches the hills, one, tall and 
conical in shape, towers high above all others, and 
challenges his attention and admiration, no less by 
its lofty height than by the beauty and sj^mmetry of 
its outline. Its sides are heavily wooded to near its 
very crest, whereon there is now standing a large 
brick church, which, when viewed from a distance, 
has the appearance as if hung in the sky. It rises 
gracefully from the very apex and towers high above 
the hills and surrounding country; a guide for the 
tourist and a beacon for the weary pilgrim who 
seeks with faith and piety its sacred threshold. 

Holy Hill is located on the southeast quarter of the 
forty acres, its summit being equi-distant from the 
east and south line and about twenty -five rods dis- 
tant from either point. The eastern and southern 
slopes are the most abrupt and precipitous; that to 
the east rising at an angle of less than thirty degrees 



20 HOLY HILL. 

from a perpendicular. Were it not for the thick un- 
dergrowth of timber, which covers the side of the 
hill, affording a good hand and foothold at every 
step, it would be next to impossible for any human 
being to ascend the hill from that point of compass. 
The most easy- route by which to reach the summit 
of the hill is by the winding roadway leading from 
the gate at the northeast corner of the hill. To reach 
the summit by this route one must climb to a height 
of two hundred and six feet from the gateway, and 
tread a crooked pathway eighteen hundred and 
sixty -three feet in length, making an average rise of 
about one foot in nine. 

The whole tract is covered with a dense growth of 
natural forest, which has been carefulry and sacredh- 
preserved in all its orginal beauty. Protected by 
parochial injunction, it is deemed an act of sacrilege 
for one to cut or remove a single tree or shrub from 
the sacred enclosure, without having first obtained 
permission. From halfway down, to the base of the 
hill, and through the deep ravines, are seen many 
trees of larger growth, such as white and red oak, 
elm, basswood, maple and butternut. Farther up, 
the hillsides are thickly covered with a forest of 
second growth timber, consisting of oak, wild cherry, 
poplar, ash, hickory, and an occasional white birch. 
Underneath the larger growth the whole surface is 
thickly covered with a shrubbery of sumach, hazel, 
osier, crab-apple, wild plum, and hawthorn; among 
which are profusely mingled blackberry, raspberry 
and gooseberry bushes; while here and there, overall, 
the clinging wild grape, ivy, woodbine and bitter- 
sweet vines grow rank and luxuriant. The very hill- 



DESCRIPTION OF THE HILL 21 

top, owing to its exposed condition, being subject to 
frequent terrific storms of wind, is but a barren and 
gravelly waste, destitute of trees and with but 
scanty vegetation. 

On reaching the summit of the hill, for the first 
time, one experiences a feeling of wonderment and 
awe on beholding the magnificent scene spread out 
far below and around him. On every side, stretching 
away to the horizon, as far as the vision can reach , 
he views from its centre a most beautiful panorama 
which completely encircles him. Due north and four 
miles away, is seen Pulford's Peak and Pike Lake 
nestling close to its western base; directly on the 
same line, and eight miles distant, is seen the large 
Catholic church at St. Lawrence; a little to the left, 
Hartford, with its many tall church spires, shows 
plainly, and is exactly five and a half miles distant 
on a straight line. A little east of north is seen the 
large and little Cedar lakes. Looking east, St. 
Augustine's church, though a mile and a half away, 
appears quite close at hand; while beyond, a glimmer 
of Frieze's lake is caught in the distance. To the 
south is the valley of the east branch of the Ocon- 
omowoc river, and Loew's lake is plainly seen, as are 
also, many of the beautiful lakes of Waukesha county; 
while farther to the west, and twenty miles away, 
Prospect Hill, near Delafield, looms up against the 
sky. To the west the broad valley of Rock River is 
plainly outlined,, beyond which the rolling prairies 
of Dodge county appear. Over this broad expanse, 
of fifteen miles radius, hundreds of farm buildings and 
well cultivated farms dot and decorate the landscape 
like so many fruitful gardens. High hills and fertile 



22 HOLY HILL. 

valleys intervening, forests and groves, lakes and 
rivers, cities and villages all within the scope of in- 
stantaneous vision! By the aid of a good field glass, 
with a clear atmosphere, many objects of interest are 
clearly discernible; among which, to the southeast, 
is the spire of the Catholic cathedral and a number 
of the higher structures of Milwaukee, and still 
farther to the south, the smoke from the rolling mills 
at Bay View; west, the court house at Juneau, Dodge 
county and to the northwest the state's prison at 
Waupun. 




HOLY HILL. 

(FROM THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL) 

In Erin's township to the east, 

There is a hill that wears the crown — 
The monarch of the range, at least 

In height, in grandeur and renown. 
It towers above all others there; 

Its rugged sides loom high and hoar; 
They mount to meet and mingle where 
Its lofty summit, bleak and bare, 

Looks down from whence the eagles soar. 

Each crag and hill top doth proclaim — 
"This place, how sacred, and divine ! 

Created thus, and will remain 
Through all the years of coming time." 

Around its base the forest wild, 
Stands just as nature placed it there, 

By human hands still undefiled — 
'Twere sacrilege, and none should dare 
Despoil its sacred beauties rare. 

The sun's first beams still light its crest, 

As on creation's natal day; 
And when departing in the west, 

Still sheds o'er it its latest ray. 
The hills, the forest, glade and glen, 

All here intact, untouched by time; 



24 . HOLY HILL. 

Unchanged the scene, the same as when, 
That bold explorer, Joliet,* 
And Holy Father, James Marquette, 

First viewed these lofty peaks sublime. 



Beyond dispute, the records show, 
These men — two hundred years ago — 
In sixteen hundred seventy-two, 
Here sought to find a passage through 
These wilds, and by it thought to gain 
The Mississippi's mystic main, 

And solve its unknown hidden might. 
They thought to gain Rock river's side, 
Thence by its current safely glide. 

To where their waters did unite. 



But here they halted, and retraced 

Their steps, as from this summit high, 
They viewed the far off western waste, 

And saw no river wandering nigh. 
Yet ere they left, from where they gazed, 

Here on the summit's topmost sod, 
A rude and ponderous cross they raised 

And offered prayers and praise to God. 
And long it stood there, queer and quaint, 

Through fear no savage dared destroy— 
The cross was raised to Mary Saint — 

The hill thev chris'ened Butte des Bois. 



Reference to this passage is made in the "traditional history" of this 



work. 



HOLY HILL. 25 

A winding pathway from the north, 

Leads to the summit of this hill, 
Which having gained, and looking forth, 

You feel an instant inward thrill — 
A sense of wonder, mixed with awe, 
As doubting what your vision saw — 
As though your wayward footsteps trod 
A trifle nearer to your God. 
You see a landscape stretching wide, 
Around, below, on every side, 
Far as the human eye can wander, 
It sights a scene of gorgeous grandeur. 

Here charming lakes in bright array, 

Lend an enchantment to the view, 
And rivers wandering far away, 

Their onward, restless course ptirsue. 
Each home and hamlet dots the land, 

Like stars upon the heaven's expanse, 
While fruitful fields on every hand, 

The beauties of the scene enhance. 

Here hill-tops rear their lofty heads, 

And stand like sentries o'er the scene, 
To guard the haunts where beauty spreads 

Her couch in sylvan groves serene. 
While o'er this picture, grand and wide, 

From vale below to summits' sod; 
In objects seen on either side, 

Is recognized the hand of God. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



his chapter, though digressing somewhat from 
the main subject, is introduced here as showing 
how, when and by whom, the immediate country 
surrounding Holy Hill was first settled; matters 
which had their weight in fashioning the subsequent 
features of the work before us. 

One very peculiar and distinctive feature in regard 
to the early settlement of Wisconsin, was the large 
number of colonies that were settled in each instance 
exclusively by a people of the same nationality. In 
various districts they came in one body, into each, 
from the same country and from the same locality in 
the fatherland. No other state in the union has so 
many different nationalities living in communities 
where the inhabitants of each are so distinctively 
homogeneous as Wisconsin. It was so from the first, 
and the lapse of fifty years has not materially altered 
its original condition. 

One very noteworthy national group was formed 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 27 

as early as 1842 in and around Holy Hill. Town- 
ship nine in Washington county was settled, with a 
few rare exceptions, exclusively by the Irish, and 
naturally they named the town Erin. This large and 
purely Irish settlement "was not however confined to 
the town of Erin alone, but included nearly the 
entire two southern tiers of sections in Richfield, 
and also the north and west portions of the town 
of Merton in Waukesha county. 

Michael Lynch has the distinction of being the 
first settler in Erin. He made the first entry of land 
in Erin on the 27th day of November, 1841, being 
forty acres in section thirty-five, and situated just 
three miles directly south from Holy Hill. This entry 
was followed by that of Eleazer Rowley, who entered 
forty acres in section twenty-five, three miles south- 
east of the hill on the same day, two hours later. 

During the succeeding two years nearly every 
available acre in the township had been entered. 
The first town meeting was held at the house of 
Patrick Toland on section twenty-nine, April 6, 
1846, and at which seventy -four votes were cast. 
The officers elected were William Dwire, Chairman; 
Thomas Carroll, and John Lynch, Supervisors, 
Thomas Fitzgerald, Clerk; John Kenny, Treasurer; 
Michael Healey and William Foley, Assessors; 
Thomas Carroll and William Paulding, Justices of 
the Peace; Thomas Burke, Timothy McNamara and 
James Lynch, School Commissioners and William 
Sullivan, Collector. 

The early settlers of Erin were, to a unit, stead- 
fast adherents of the Roman Catholic Church. The 
first mass ever said in the town was bv the Rev. 



28 HOLY HILL. 

Father Kundig, in the log house of Barney McCon- 
ville on section twenty -two, in September 1844. 
Rev. Kundig made his advent into Erin on foot, 
coming up from Prairieville (now Waukesha) by the 
way of Merton and Monches. Soon after, the citizens 
assisted in building a log church at Monches where 
the early settlers of Erin worshipped for a number of 
years. 

They have now two Catholic churches in the 
town. One, St. Patrick's, located in the centre of 
section nine, one and a half miles south of the north 
township line. It is a wooden structure, quite com- 
modious and substantially built. It stands on the 
east of the main highway on a gentle rise of ground 
and from its commanding position can be seen for 
miles around. Just west from the church, and across 
the highway, is the "silent city," large and cleanly 
kept, where, on polished white marble are recorded 
the names of a majority of Erin's pioneers who, 
"have laid them down in their last sleep." Two 
miles to the southeast of St. Patrick's, stands the 
other church, St. Mary's Help on Holy Hill, and of 
which further mention will be made. 

The majority of the earh T settlers of Erin came in 
from nearly the same locality in Ireland; coming 
principally from Cary, Cork and adjoining counties. 
They were apparently descendants from a small num- 
ber of original families, as in many instances the 
relationship of one extended through a long line of 
his fellow compatriots. Most of the older ones spoke 
the Irish or Celtic language, and when in conversa- 
tion among themselves they spoke that in preference 
to anv other. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 29 

In marry respects Erin is completely isolated from 
the outside business world. It is exclusively a farm- 
ing town, having no factory of any kind, no village, 
no telegraph or telephone and no railroad. It has 
only one store, and near it the postoffice is kept. 
The mail is brought to this office twice a week from 
Hartford. 

The township, being strictly an agricultural one, 
seems to have reached its limit as to population, and 
for years it has shown no material increase. Its 
population was 1266 in 1870; 1273 in 1880 and 
1301 in 1890. 

Coming from the same country and locality, 
bound together by the ties of wedlock or consan- 
guinit\% and worshippers at the same altar, it is no 
wonder that they should have been as one on 
political questions, as they assuredly were. No town 
in this state was ever so totally democratic as Erin. 
For years it was the banner democratic town of 
Washington county, and for twelve years subsequent 
to its first organization no non-democratic vote was 
ever cast at its polls. But in 1860 its unique record 
was broken by Abraham Lincoln, who received in 
the town of Erin, one vote for president. Since that 
date, at times as high as fifty votes have been cast in 
the town for the opposite party. 

It does not appear that the old settlers of Erin 
were actuated by that spirit of progress and im- 
provement so characteristic of their sons to-day. 
But this was no doubt owing to the difficulties and 
hardships incident to pioneer life; or else they were 
not possessed of the means necessary to carry out 
their ideas in this direction. Be that as it mav,itwas 



30 HOLY HILL. 

a noticeable fact that very few fine residences and 
commodious farm buildings were met with in Erin 
until within the past few 3 r ears. The older people seem- 
ed happy and contended, and rather preferred to re- 
main in their humble log cabins that had served them 
for a home since their advent into the wilderness, 
than to dwell in homes of luxury unpaid for. There 
are many instances extant in Erin to-day, where the 
log cabin of nearly fifty years existence still serves 
as a home for its original owner. 

An instance of this kind is shown in the accom- 
panying engraving of the home of Air. Christopher 
McGuire. The photograph, after which the engrav- 
ing was made, was taken in May of the present year. 
Although Air. McGuire entered his land from govern- 
ment in 1844, he has lived continually on it ever 
since. His farm, which consists of seventy-eight 
acres, adjoins Holy Hill on the north, and his log 
dwelling, seen at the left hand of the picture, is just 
eighty rods due north of the northwest corner of the 
hill property. His log barn and stable, at the right, 
are well dilapidated. A log granary is seen mid- way 
between the house and barn, while the two small 
buildings, half dug-outs in the hill, are a milk house 
at the left, and the hen house at the right. The high 
hill in the background is of the range of hills, while in 
the foreground is shown a natural pond or lake. In 
the lower right hand corner of the cut, is seen a small 
portion of the highway leading to Holy Hill. 

Those who have previously visited the hill, going 
by the way of Hartford, will recognize the place by 
the picture at the first glance; while those, who may 
hereafter visit it for the first time mav know, when 



■BH 




EARLY SETTLEMENT. 33 

they reach this spot, that they are near their 
journey's end, and forty rods farther to the east the 
hill, which for the last mile has been hidden from 
view by intervening hills, will be seen upon the right 
standing in all its stately grandeur and rural beauty 
close at hand. 

Twenty rods farther to the east brings you to the 
gateway of the private road which leads directly 
south to the hill, only eighty rods distant from 
the entrance to the sacred enclosure. In former years 
this private road was the property of Mr. Matthias 
Werner, who owned the land adjoining on the east. 
Through his generosity the public was for years per- 
mitted to pass over it free, to and from the church 
grounds, but as it was private property no road work 
was bestowed upon it and it was generally in poor 
condition for travel. But in the fall of 1890, through 
the instrumentality of Rev. N. M. Zimmer of Hart- 
ford, who was the custodian of the church propert}^ 
at the hill, a strip of land twenty-five feet wide and 
eighty rods long, leading from the highway to the 
hill, was bought from Mr. Werner for one hundred 
dollars. This roadway has since been graded and put 
in fine condition, making it one of the best quarter 
mile drives between Hartford and the hill. 

The point where the bye-road diverges from the 
main highway affords as fine a view of the hill as can 
be had anywhere. From here nearly the whole of 
the north, and a portion of the east side of the hill, 
stand out plainly before you, and the church on the 
summit is distinctly outlined against the sky. From 
here can be seen station one, near the gatewa\-, 
and from where the steep and winding pathway 



34 



HOLY HILL. 



leading to the church on the extreme hill-top begins. 
At this point it was the custom, in an early day, 
for visitors to the hill to halt and leave their horses 
and carriages in charge of Roman Goetz, who lived 
on the north side of the high-way; or with his son-in- 
law, Mr. Matthias Werner, who lived a few rods 
farther to the east. Both of these men were very 
obliging and hospitable to those who visited the 




WERNER'S HOTEL, NEAR HOLY HILL. 



hill, and especially to strangers. Mr. Goetz was the 
custodian of the church property-, and from him the 
key to the old chapel, that stood where the new 
church now stands, could be obtained. In the early 
times Mr. Werner kept a sort of a hotel, where 
tourists and pilgrims to the hill were entertained. 
Feed for horses, good lodging and a substantial 
meal could always be obtained, and at a low price 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 35 

at Werner's hotel in an early day. Besides providing 
for the wants of the inner man, Mr. Werner did all in 
his power to make his guests happy while under his 
hospitable roof. 

Viewed from this point, at any season of the year, 
the hill presents a scene that is attractive and pleas- 
ing to the eye; but to see it in all its majesty and 
splendor, one must visit this spot about the latter 
part of September or when the early frosts, alter- 
nated with the scorching rays of an autumn's sun, has 
transformed the foliage into colors gay and manifold. 
It is at this season of the year that the hill appears 
at its best; looking like a beautiful picture spread 
upon an immense canvas, in bright and charming 
colors of every hue and shade. 

The magnificent coloring of the foliage by an 
American autumn is a sight not met with in any 
other country in the world, and many people 3^early 
cross the sea merely to gaze upon its beauties. But 
even here, not every locality is favored with the 
imposing sight. All necessary conditions must be 
present to produce the grand effect. These conditions 
require a latitude between forty and forty-five 
degrees north; a forest where many varieties of trees, 
shrubs and creeping vines grow dense, and the differ- 
ent kinds are well distributed. Added to these, the 
forest should be located upon a hill-side, so that the 
many colors and shadings are distinctly brought to 
view. Under such conditions only, do you find in all 
its entirety, the really magnificent American autumn 
scene. 



THE AUTUMN SCENE. 
(from the hermit of holy hill.) 

There's but one time in all the } r ear, 
To view aright this wond'rous pile — 

Yet be alone, have no one near, 
For Nature's beauties only smile 

And yield their rarest charms profound 

To him who hears no human sound. 

Go see this hill in beauty fringed, 

When autumn's frost has touched and tinged 

Its foliage with a thousand hues, 
And spread them like a robe of state 
In gorgeous garb, elaborate, 

Beyond conceptions of the muse, 
Or painter's power to imitate. 

From where the hill-top frets the sky, 
Thence downward to the lowland glade, 

'Tis mantled o'er in richest dye, 
Of every color, hue and shade. 

Around its summit, bare and brown, 

A belt of osiers forms a crown 

Of green, that early frost defies, 

And clings to life when verdure dies. 



THE A UTUMN SCENE. 37 

While here and there along this zone, 
The sumac waves its gaudy plume 
And stamps it with a richer tone — 

In brighest colors of maroon. 
Then blending with, and just below, 
The deeper lines of yellow show 
Where poplars stand in graceful pride, 
With wild grape clinging to the side, 
In verdure green, which droops and sways; 
Each passing breeze its fruit displays 
And shows the ripeness and the luster 
Of many a pendant purple cluster. 

Here lindens wave their orange leaves, 
Which to the scene rich tributes yield; 

Arrayed like shocks of golden sheaves 
Upon some late reaped harvest field. 

To make this painting all complete, 

On every hand the eye doth greet 

The coral-berried bitter-sweet. 

The ivy, wild, whose crimson shade, 
Wrought by alternate frost and heat, 

Droops gay from many a trunk decayed — 

Like master-strokes by artists made; 
The final touch, that makes complete, 

And gives the picture grace and tone 

When viewed in solitude, alone. 

Here maples wide their branches spread, 

And casts a lustre which imbues 
The whole with splendor, where they shed 

Their colors of a thousand hues. 



38 HOLY HILL. 

The hazel blends its dusky brown 
From base below to summit crown; 
While down within the dark ravine, 
The giant oak in mantle green 
Adds grandeur to the autumn scene. 

Go stand below and cast your eye 
Far upward on this colored dome; 

Behold this picture on the sky! 
No matter where your footsteps roam, 

You ne'er will meet a scene like this — 

Replete with nature's loveliness; 

On earth a Heavenlv Paradise. 



A CHANGE OF NATIONALITY. 



\ x / E come now to a most singular page in the 
* * history of the early settlement of the town of 
Erin; a transformation from an Irish to a German 
population and especially in the neighborhood of 
Holy Hill. With one single exception there has been 
an absolute change in this direction of five entire 
sections in the northeast part of the town, and a 
partial change in at least five others. And this 
change is still progressing, and at a rate that bids 
fair at no distant day to depopulate the Irish of fully 
one half their original settlement. 

It is difficult to account for this radical transmu- 
tation upon any theory other than the proximity of 
the city of Milwaukee, with its large German popu- 
lation. Many of these, daily laborers and possessed of 
some means, were ever ready and on the lookout for 
a chance to change their position as wage workers 



40 HOLY HILL. 

for the more quiet and peaceful pursuits of farm life. 
Here, and close at hand, the golden opportunity for 
such a change presented itself. For the farms in the 
"hills," which were quite rough and without many 
improvements, could be bought of the original own- 
ers much cheaper than farms in more favorable 
localities. While on the other hand the Irish that 
settled among the hills in an early day were compar- 
atively poor, and their experience with pioneer life 
for ten or fifteen years had only brought them a mere 
living at the expense of many privations and much 
hard labor; and they, as a class, generally preferring 
the city to country life, were quite willing to sell, the 
first opportunity that offered, and especially when 
they could do so at a profit. Be this as it may the 
change was inaugurated as early as 1854, and has 
been slowly increasing to the present time. 

However, the transfers made by the Irish to the 
Germans, thus far, only include the more rough and 
uneven portion of the town, while all the very 
best farming land is still in possession of the original 
owners or their direct descendants, and in all proba- 
bility will so remain for many years to come. Within 
the last fifteen years there has been a marked 
improvements among the Irish farmers of Erin, and 
the thrift is noticeable on every hand, from the good 
cultivation of their farms, and excellent improve- 
ments in fencing, roads and the many fine farm 
buildings that are now being built every year. 

Though the Germans have, as yet, become the 
possessors of only the poorer class of farming lands; 
yet by their thrift and industry, so characteristic 
of that class of people, they have already converted 



A CHANGE OF NA TIONALITY. 41 

the rough and seemingly barren waste into very 
productive farms. Those who were acquainted with 
the thriftless condition of things among the " hills," 
even fifteen years ago, if they pass through them 
to-day, will be greatly surprised with the many 
substantial improvements which have been wrought 
in that short space of time. 

As previously stated in this work there were a 
few exceptional cases, where the early settlers of 
Erin were people of nationalities other than Irish. 
These exceptions were limited to about six or 
seven Norwegian families who took up land from 
government on the extreme western edge of the 
town. Also Jacob Loew, a German, who entered 
nearly all the land in section twenty-five and one 
quarter of section twenty-six. John Krauter, also 
a German, occupied forty acres in the southeast 
corner of section twenty-four in a very early day, 
though he may have purchased it second hand. 
These, and possibly one or two others, were the 
only exceptions to the otherwise exclusively Irish 
settlement of Erin. 

The great change in the population began when 
Matthias Werner purchased the forty acres just at 
the foot, and to the northeast of the hill, from 
Thomas Benningham, in the summer of 1854. Mr. 
Werner did not occupy or live on the place until two 
years later. In 1856 he married a daughter of 
Romanus Goetz, and removed to the farm which he 
has occupied continually ever since. His father-in- 
law followed him, making his home with him for a 
few years. He then bought two acres of land from 
Christopher McGuire, just opposite the bye-road 



42 HOLY HILL. 

leading up to the hill. Here Mr. Goetz built him a 
house in which he lived for many years. Both Air. 
Werner and his father-in-law, Mr. Goetz, were Prus- 
sians, their homes in the old country being near 
Koehlen on the upper Rhine near the boundaries of 
Switzerland. 

The style of architecture used in the construction 
of the home of Roman Goetz is widely different from 
that used by the early Irish settlers in the construc- 
tion of their log cabins. To show this contrast, a 
fac simile of his home is given on the opposite page. 
It is a genuine copy of a Swiss cottage, as used by 
the peasantry of the country from which he emi- 
grated. It is still standing by the roadside and is in 
a good state of preservation. 




HOME OF ROMAN GOETZ. 



TITLE TO THE HILL. 




he forty acre tract comprising Holy Hill, owing 
to the fact that it was valueless for farming 
purposes, remained a number of years as government 
property. Long after all the land in the vicinity had 
been entered, and as late as 1855, the Rev. Francis 
Paulhuber entered the land; and as the circumstances 
which led him to make the entry are somewhat 
interesting, and the subsequent history of the hill 
has so wonderfully verified a prophecy, made by him 
before he became the actual possessor of the property, 
it is deemed worthy of particular mention here. 

At the date above mentioned, Father Paulhuber 
was the local priest of the neighborhood, and had 
charge of three parishes; St. Boniface, at Goldenthal, 
in the town of Germantown; St. Hubert's, on section 



46 HOLY HILL. 

twenty-two in the town of Richfield and St. Augus- 
tine's in Richfield, on the range line and only a little 
over a mile to the east of Holy Hill. While officiat- 
ing at the latter church he made his home with 
Joseph Kohler, who lived a half mile south of St. 
Augustine's church and a mile and a quarter directly 
east of the hill. 

Father Paulhuber was a native of Salsburg, Aus- 
tria, and was born and educated to the priesthood 
in that country. It was while stopping at Mr. 
Kohler's in the fall of 1854, and while viewing the 
Hill, w r hich shows up grandly from this point that he 
made the wonderfully true prophecy before men- 
tioned. Said he, pointing to the west. "That beau- 
tiful hill yonder, reminds me very forcibly of a hill 
near our home in my native country. I feel very sure 
and the day is not far distant, when that hill will 
become one of the most noted places in all this land; 
when it shall be consecrated and made holy; a place 
of worship and a pilgrimage where tens of thousands 
shall yearly come to do homage to the Virgin Mary 
and her Son. Only lately have I learned that the hill 
is still owned by the gOA^ernment, and it is my inten- 
tion to secure it without delay, and then permanently 
establish the title by deed to this Arch-Diocese of the 
Roman Catholic church." This declaration was 
made in the presence of a number of his parishioners, 
a few of whom are still living. 

That Father Paulhuber carried out the first part 
of his intention as stated is quite certain, for the 
records show that he entered the land from govern- 
ment, May 1st, 1855, by duplicate No. 38,710. It 
is also reasonably sure that the entire promise was 



TITLE TO THE HILL. 47 

fulfilled on his part, though no deed appears on the 
records from him to the bishop of the Arch-Diocese. 
It is stated, however, and on good authority, that 
he did execute a deed before the late John M. Gans, 
who resided in the neighborhood, and who was then 
a Notary Public. It is thought that Rev. Paulhuber 
must have left the deed with Mr. Gans, with instruc- 
tions to have it placed on record, and then send it to 
the grantee named in the deed. But this important 
matter was undoubtedly overlooked and forgotten, 
as the people in those early days were not so particu- 
lar to record papers as most all are at the present 
time. Soon after Father Paulhuber returned to his 
home in the old country and died there. Mr. Gans has 
since died, and in all probability there is no witness 
to the transaction living at the present time, though 
there are some still living who have a vivid recollec- 
tion that the transfer of the Hill property was made 
by Father Paulhuber as above stated. 

The negligence in not placing Paulhuber's deed on 
record caused a serious complication in the title of 
the land to arise, which was not perfected for years, 
nor then without great trouble and some expense. 
Had his deed been recorded, showing it to be 
church property, it would have escaped assessment 
and taxation; but being recorded in Paulhuber's 
name it was considered private property and as such 
was assessed and taxed. It next appears, by the 
records, that the land was sold for taxes, and was 
bought by one Martin L. Cutler. This Cutler was 
a sort of a " money shark," and ever on the alert to 
take advantage of the poor settlers who, in the early 
days were unable to pay their taxes when due. This 



48 HOLY HILL. 

many of the pioneers, not only of Erin but of every 
town in the county, can testify to, to their sorrow 
to-day. 

Cutler's deed from Washington county bore date 
of August 13, 1856, and was recorded seven days 
later. There was evidently a mistake in the descrip- 
tion of the land in this deed, as it followed too soon 
after Paulhuber's deed from government; much 
sooner than the law prescribes for deeding lands for 
taxes. As such are the facts, it follows that some 
other land was sold for taxes, and by an error the 
description of the hill property was inserted in 
Cutler's deed. However he continued to hold it and 
pay the taxes assessed against it for twelve years 
following the date of his deed. 

The next recorded conveyance to the Holy Hill 
property was a quit-claim deed given by Martin L. 
Cutler and wife to Washington county, under date 
of March 9th, 1868. Just what inducement led 
Mr. Cutler to make this sale is not known to the 
writer. Certainly, it was not the price he received 
for it, as the consideration named in the deed was 
only about nine dollars, a sum hardly sufficient to 
reimburse him for his first outlay and the interest on 
that for twelve years. 

It seems that this deed from Cutler and wife to 
Washington county was the iniatory step taken by 
the authorities of the Catholic Church to perfect the 
title to the property, and to restore it to the church 
as was the original intent of Father Paulhuber. For 
following close upon the date is found a recorded 
quit-claim deed from Washington county to the trus- 
tees of St. Mary's Chapel in the town of Erin. This 



TITLE TO THE HILL. 49 

deed is dated November 5th, 1868, and was placed 
on record the same day. The consideration named 
in this deed is ten dollars. 

Here the title to the hill property rested for nearly 
eight years more, and, as will be seen later on, many 
improvements were added to the place during that 
interval of time. It was also during those years 
and the five years immediately preceding, that the 
hill gained its great notoriety as a shrine of sacred 
pilgrimage; a resort where those devotionally in- 
clined might worship in solitude alone; a notoriety 
from which all subsequent years have detracted 
nothing but, on the contrary, have rather increased 
its popularity and extended its field of patronage 
until to-day it has a fame and a renown that have no 
parallel among the institutions of its kind anywhere 
upon the western continent. 

We come now to the last recorded transfer of the 
Holy Hill property. This is a quit-claim deed from 
Romanus Goetz, John Piek and Bertram Schwarz, 
as trustees of St. Mary's Chapel in the town of Erin, 
Washington County, Wisconsin, to Rev. John Martin 
Henni, arch-bishop of the Milwaukee Arch-Diocese of 
Wisconsin. This deed bears the date of Maj r 26th, 
1876, and was recorded June 24th, 1876, in volume 
thirty-six of deeds, on page seventeen. The considera- 
tion named in this deed is just one dollar, being only 
the nominal fee fixed by law for transfers made by 
gift or donation. 

The last transfer fixes the title to the property 
securely, and undoubtedly forever, in the name of the 
Roman Catholic church, and where the Rev. Francis 
Paulhuber had previously, no doubt, intended it 



50 HOLY HILL. 

should be nearly forty years ago. Though the title 
was for man3 T years in the name of Martin L. Cutler 
by a tax deed, and for a time in the name of Wash- 
ington county by a quit-claim deed from him, yet the 
title of Cutler must have always been considered as 
faulty, for at no time during these years did the 
members of the Catholic church ever relinquish their 
possession to it; but from the first they continued to 
occupy it and build improvements there. This tenure 
to the land was based upon their knowledge or 
belief, that Paulhuber, before his departure for his 
home in the old country, did donate the property to 
their church b} r his own free act and deed. Therefore 
their possession to it has been continuous and has 
remained undisturbed from the government down to 
the present time. 




HOW TO REACH THE HILL. 



/_\ s previously stated, the location of the hill is 
^ V — — ^ v j us t five miles distant from Hartford, on 
an air line, in a southeasterly direction; though the 
distance one must travel to reach it is a little more 
than six and a half miles, caused by the road 
deviating many times from a direct course. 

There are three stations on the railroads which 
are the most convenient for tourists to leave the cars 
and make their way by carriage conveyance to the 
hill. Schleisingerville, on the Northern Division of 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, and also on the 
Wisconsin Central R. R., is eight miles from the hill 
by the nearest wagon road. The direction from this 
station is a little west of south. Richfield on the St. 
Paul road is distant seven and a half miles by the 
nearest route. From this station the line of travel 
is due west. The road from Schleisingerville, and 



52 HOLY HILL. 

also that by the way of Richfield, are both beset 
with many intervening hills, a few of which are very 
steep and lengthy. 

It is quite obvious that the route to the hill by 
the way of Hartford is by far the most preferable, 
when we consider the facts that it is fully a mile 
nearer than either of the two last mentioned places, 
and that the road is less hilly; in addition to which 
Hartford affords good livery accommodations, a 
convenience that is wanting in either of the other 
places. 

To reach the hill from Hartford by the nearest 
and most convenient way one should take the State 
road south. Before leaving the city limits the hill is 
seen directly before you looming up in the south- 
east. It remains plainly in sight for nearly the whole 
journey, though at times it is lost to sight by the 
intervening hills. The road south should be con- 
tinued for two miles, or to the school house on the 
town line between Hartford and Erin. Then the 
direction is east for one and a half miles, or to the 
foot of the range of hills. At this point } r ou are a 
little more than halfway, and the distance traveled 
has been nearly level. Here the direction is again 
south for two miles, when the turn is again cast, and 
three-quarters of a mile farther brings you to the 
bye-road leading up to the hill. It makes no difference 
from which railroad station one's pilgrimage begins, 
all must surely centre at this point. 

In the annexed engraving is shown the Temperance 
Saloon of Peter McGuire, standing on the southwest 
corner of the highway and the bye-road. In the 
lower left hand comer of the cut, near the gate, is 



HO W TO REACH THE HILL. 53 

shown the down hill and abrupt turn onto the bye- 
road only eighty rods from the gateway to Holy 
Hill. 

When the photograph was taken, after which the 
engraving was made, in May of the present year, the 
sign above the door read "Temperance Saloon and 




mcguire's saloon and grocery. 



Grocery." Since then the proprietor seems to have 
taken a backward step, as the word "Temperance" 
has since been erased. 

The drive from Hartford to the hill is a very 
pleasant and romantic one, and requires about one 
hour's time under favorable circumstances, which 
include a good team, roads and weather. 



54 HOLY HILL. 

For the first half of the journey the road leads 
through a delightful farming county where thrift 
and enterprise are noticeable upon either hand. Soon 
after leaving the school house you cross a beautiful 
stream, the headwaters of the Ashippun river, and 
which has its source from numerous springs in the 
bluffs a mile farther to the east. At the foot of the 
hills are seen upon either hand many beautiful springs 
of clear cold sparkling water. Here the tired way- 
farer usually halts to rest and slake his thirst at 
some one of the cool fountains by the wayside, the 
streams of which are heavily cress laden. 

From here to the hill the road is more rough and 
hilly. Soon you pass the little white church on the 
right with its tall and graceful spire pointing upward 
to the blue vault of Heaven, while to the north and 
rear is spread out God's Acre, as yet but sparsely 
populated. Then } r ou ascend the long hill and on 
reaching the top, Holy Hill is seen before you, a little 
to the left, and two miles away. From here the 
sight is beautifully grand, and must have caused 
many a pilgrim's heart to beat for joy when he 
reached the brow of this hill and beheld the goal of 
his pilgrimage so near at hand. The tall and sym- 
metrical form of the hill is distinctly outlined against 
the southern sky; while from its apex, and completely 
capping it, gracefully rises the church, its light grey 
color being in marked contrast with the hill's dark 
green sides. Above all the gilded "cross in the sky'," 
like to that seen by Constantine and his followers, 
flashes back the bright rays of sunlight, to beckon 
and guide the wear}' pilgrim on his way. 

As yon near the hill the road grows rougher and 



HO W TO REACH THE HILL. 55 

more picturesque. At times you go down into fertile 
valleys, then mount again some high and rugged hill. 
The scene around you is suddenly transformed, and 
you find yourself surrounded by a haunt where the 
most primitive of human habitations are. The 
houses and barns which are built of logs, show age 
and decay, and some are tenantless. Old fashioned 
rail fences and broken down stone walls line the 
roadsides and mark the divisions of separate indi- 
vidual domains. These are half hidden with the 
creeping vines of grape, bitter-sweet, honey-suckle 
and wild hops, and all are supplemented with a dense 
growth of thorn, hazel and sumac, forming a barrier 
seemingly strong enough to resist the encroachments 
of beasts or even man. The whole country now 
presents such a varied contrast to the fine fertile 
farms passed by when the journey began that one 
enjoys the scene the more, for its wild, rural and 
romantic aspect. 




ORIGIN OF THE NAME. 



\ x / ith regard to the different names that have 
* * been given to the hill in times past, and that by 
which it is generally known at the present time, this 
chapter will be entirely devoted. In fact, its name 
has been changed quite often to suit the times and 
circumstances which surrounded its history in the 
days gone by. 

It will follow in the traditional part of this work 
that the first explorers of the west, Joliet and Father 
Marquette, in 1672, gave it the name of Butte des 
Bois — Hill of the Woods — Though there is nothing 
very authentic regarding this, yet it is quite certain 
that the early French so called it, and it was also so 
written in their old manuscripts, some of which are 
still extant. However, as to this, we shall introduce 
more testimony in a subsequent portion of this 
work. 



ORIGIN OF THE NAME. 57 

Coming down to the earliest authentic name 
given to the hill, we find it recorded in history as 
Lapham's Peak. This was in honor of the late 
Increase A. Lapham, once state geologist, and who 
made a scientific study and survey of the range of 
hills, which also bears his name in history, long 
before Wisconsin was admitted into the Union as a 
state. 

Perhaps the most commonplace, and at the 
same time really literal name ever given to the hill, 
was the one applied to it by the first inhabitants 
who settled in that immediate neighborhood. They 
gave it no euphonious or high sounding title, but 
called it simply, the Big Hill. By that name it was 
known and called by the first settlers for many 
years. Though the name is gradually growing into 
disuse and destined to become obsolete at no distant 
day, still there are a few of the older inhabitants 
who, in speaking of the hill, continue to call it by 
that name, even at the present time. 

It will appear in a subsequent chapter, that 
which treats of the history of the church at the hill, 
that a cross was raised on its highest elevation. The 
cross was raised and blest in the summer of 1858 by 
Rev. J. B. Hasselbauer, who then had charge of 
several parishes in Richfield, and particularly St. 
Augustine's in the immediate vicinity. The cross 
and the hill were dedicated in the name of St. Mary, 
and from that time, and until quite recently, the hill 
was called by all members of the Catholic church, 
St. Mary's Hill. In fact, a large majority of the 
members of that church still continue to call it by 
that name to-dav. 



58 HOLY HILL. 

The time when the cross was raised and blest was 
some time before any other church improvements 
were made. It was four years later when the little 
rude log chapel on the hill was built; though the 
church era proper, dates from the raising and blessing 
of the cross. From that time, and down to the }xar 
of 1881, there was no other name excepting St. 
Mary's Hill, applied to the place by the members of 
the Catholic church. The name is still retained and 
used by the older members, and in all probability will 
be for many years to come. 

In the month of June, 1862, four years after the 
cross had been erected, there appeared in the vicinity 
a very strange personage; a man of mature years, 
peculiar in his traits and odd in his dress and man- 
ners. His coming was unheralded and unknown to 
am r . During the summer months he made his home 
in a dug-out in a deep ravine to the north of 
the hill. Before the winter came he constructed him 
a rude log-cabin, just to the east and near where the 
parsonage now stands. Here he lived many years 
leading the life of a recluse, and so retired from the 
world and the rest of mankind that the people in 
the neighborhood gave him the name of Hermit of 
the Hill. None molested him in the least, but on 
the contrary all seemed to fear and avoid him. His 
long residence there was the source of a new name to 
the hill. Shortly after his advent it was called 
Hermit Hill. For a time this name was most 
common in use by all outside the pale of the Catholic 
church, the members of which still adhered to the 
name by wmich it had been christened b} r Father 
Hasselbauer. A more extended account of the life 



ORIGIN OF THE NAME. 59 

and adventures of this wandering and strange mis- 
anthrope will be found in another chapter and under 
the heading of "The Hermit of the Hill." 

In later years a ver} r important circumstance, in 
connection with the hill, took place giving rise to a 
new name, that of Government Hill. This name 
however never came into general use, but was con- 
fined principally to scientists who were engaged in 
work for the government. 

In the summer of 1873 a corps of United States 
engineers took possession of the hill and erected on 
the summit a high observatory or signal station. 
They were sent out by the government to make a 
"lake survey" for the War Department at Washing- 
ton. By it the coast line of lake Michigan was 
correctly defined and mapped out, showing clearly 
every harbor, bay, inlet, coast depression, high bluff, 
and promontory. The altitudes above the lake's 
level along the coast line were all carefully noted 
down and also the depth or shoal of water near 
its margin. By this method, of signaling from high 
inland points, it is claimed much better results can 
be obtained than by the old and uncertain way of 
meandering along the coast line. 

Their tower was simply a tripod, three tall tama- 
rack poles forming the legs. The point of observation 
was a small platform, twenty-five feet above the 
ground, from the centre of which a signal staff arose 
twenty-five feet, making the point of signal fifty feet 
above the base of tower. Directly below the signal 
staff a stone monument was set, the top being on a 
level with the ground. It is a lime stone, dressed, two 
feet in length and seven inches square. The top is 



60 HOLY HILL. 

smooth and in its centre is drilled an inch hole which 
is filled with lead. The letters U. S., are sunken in the 
surface, one on each side of the lead centre, and on a 
line due east and west. The monument is still in its 
original position, though now thirty inches below 
the surface, having been covered when the hill was 
graded for the new church. Its exact location may 
be determined by the following measurements: it 
stands about fourteen feet south of the church, 
fifteen feet in a southeasterly direction from the 
centre of the doorway and at a point w^here two 
lines cross each other, one drawn sixteen feet in a 
direction southwest from the southeast corner of the 
church, and the other thirty -three feet, in a direction 
southeast from the southwest corner, each line 
measuring from the inside corner of the brick 
abutments. 

A second survey by government employes was 
made in 1881, and the same monument was used as 
a base for their operation. This survey was made 
for the Treasury Department, and was called the 
"lake surve}'." It was made for the purpose of 
establishing base lines between points on the Mississ- 
ippi rrver and points on lakes Michigan and Superior. 

During the present season, 1891, another corps 
of engineers was sent out from Washington to make 
a third survey. They came in the month of June 
and commenced their work on the hill from the old 
stone monument, which they unearthed without 
much trouble. They also erected a new signal tower 
to the northwest of the church. This was a "topo- 
graphical survey," and made for the Department of 
the Interior. From this survey topographical maps 



ORIGIN OF THE NAME. 61 

are made showing the surface of the state. These 
maps are made forty inches square, on a scale of two 
miles to the inch, and are without reference to cities, 
towns or railroads; showing only the ground surface 
and location of hills, valleys, lakes, rivers, forests, 
prairies and marshes. 

As the government has made use of the hill by 
making it a base for surveys extending through a 
period of nearly twenty years, and has established a 
permanent monument there as a reference or starting 
point for future surveys, it is quite natural that 
those engaged in the work should allude to it as the 
Government Hill. 

As to the name by which the hill is now widely 
known and called, the author of this work claims 
the credit, if any there is, in having first introduced 
it to the public. When his poem of the Hermit was 
written in 1881, in looking around for a suitable 
name by which to entitle it, he hit upon a very sig- 
nificant alliteration, and called it the "Hermit of 
Holy Hill." This was chosen, not only as being 
applicable, but for the further reason, that it was 
harmonious and rythmical in sound. 

It was not long after the poem made its first 
appearance in print, that many in the vicinity, when 
alluding to the hill, would drop the first two words 
of the poem's title, and using only the latter two, 
would call it, holy hill. From that time the new 
title seemed to grow in favor, and among all classes 
near or far, no matter what their nationality was, 
or what their religious views might be, the name 
was, by common consent, universally accepted as 
being eminently proper, and was adopted by all, and 



62 HOLY HILL. 

in all likelihood never again to be changed. Indeed, 
what fitter or more appropriate name could be 
ascribed to the place? The words articulate with 
smoothness and with ease; they fall upon the ear of 
the hearer with the harmony and cadence of a well 
timed tune. They define and impress upon the mind 
that solemnity which pervades the hallowed domain, 
reminding one of the blessed sancity that lingers 
around and within the sacred enclosure. 

Holy Hill — May its hallowed name, sacred and 
endeared to the present living, be forever perpetuated 
and transmitted to all future generations, unchanged 
by none; but sacredly preserved, even as its pristine 
and rural beauties are guarded and cherished by the 
living of to-day. 







«pT 




ST. MARY'S CHURCH ON HOLY HILL. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 



REV. J. B. HASSELBAUER. 



\ x /ith the historical part of the Catholic church, 
^ ^ pertaining to Holy Hill, this chapter is espec- 
ially devoted. In tracing its rise and progress for 
the past forty years, it is deemed proper to begin 
with the wonderful prediction made by Father Paul- 
huber nearly forty years ago, and which is quoted 
on page forty-six of this work. We say wonderful, 
because time with its ceaseless mutations has 
wrought out and fully demonstrated the truth of 
his prophecy. Whether it was by inspiration, or 
through conception of his own mind, that he foresaw 
the future greatness and renown that would attach 
to the hill in later years is now a thing unknown; 
yet certain it is, he so proclaimed it, and at a time 
when there was apparently nothing to indicate the 
great notoriety to which it has attained through the 
years that followed. 



66 HOLY HILL. 

Just at what time the Rev. Paulhuber donated 
the hill property to the church and took his depar- 
ture for his home in the old country is not now 
definitely known, but is supposed to have been in the 
fall of 1856, the next year after he purchased the hill 
from the government. This supposition is based 
upon the fact, that Rev. J. B. Hasselbauer, who was 
his immediate successor, had charge of the Richfield 
parishes in 1857; hence, the time given must be 
approximately correct. 

Soon after assuming the charge of the parishes 
above referred to, Reverend Hasselbauer gave 
orders that a cross be erected on the summit of the 
hill. Accordingly one was made by Roman Goetz at 
the close of the year referred to. It was hewed from 
a white oak tree that grew at the foot of the hill; 
was five by seven inches in thickness, and when 
erected stood fifteen feet above ground. The cross, 
when finished, was carried by Mr. Goetz and his son- 
in-law, Mathias Werner, to the top of the hill on 
their shoulders, and placed in position. 

The cross was solemnly blessed by Rev. Hasselbauer 
in June 1858, who came over from St. Augustine's 
church with a large procession for that purpose. 
Soon after its dedication Roman Goetz made a 
strong box from hard wood and fastened it securely 
to the cross. It was kept locked, but was provided 
with an opening in front large enough to allow the 
deposit of a silver dollar. This was for the conven- 
ience of worshippers and pilgrims who might wish 
to deposit a small offering when visiting the place. 

Though the box was originally intended for only 
small donations, still it was quite a revenue to the 



CHURCH HISTORY. 67 

church at times, as frequently large sums were 
deposited by devotees to the hill. In 1880, one 
Joseph Lang of Cleveland, Ohio, a nephew of Christian 
Lang, ex -county treasurer of Washington county, 
while worshipping at the hill, deposited in the 
box ninety -five dollars by way of donation. This is 
the largest amount ever deposited at any one time 
by a single individual, though larger amounts have 
in other ways been donated to the church by differ- 
ent persons in times past. 

The old cross is still standing on the hill, near and 
to the south of the church. It is shown later on in 
this chapter in the cut illustrating the "Bell-tower 
and Cross." It is somewhat blemished and weather- 
beaten with age, and, as can be seen by the picture, 
shows signs of decay; and well it may, for in its 
exposed location it has withstood the fierce storms 
of time and has been subject to all the extremes of 
heat and cold for thirty-three years . It has outlasted 
the hand that fashioned it; the man who made and 
assisted in erecting it as an emblem of the sufferings 
of our Savior, upon the highest elevation of Holy 
Hill — Romanus Goetz-who died at the house of his 
son, Daniel at the foot of the hill, to the east, April 
14th, 1891, at the age of eighty-six years. Romanus 
Goetz was foremost among the laymen of the 
Catholic church in the early history of the hill, and 
did much to advance its popularity. In the preced- 
ing chapter it will be seen that his name is first in 
the deed of 1876 from Washington County to the 
trustees of St. Mary's Chapel in the town of Erin. 
He was long the local custodian of the property, and 
took great pains to guard and preserve it from 



68 HOLY HILL. 

molestation by any maliciously inclined. His valued 
services to the church, before age made him retire 
from active life, will long be remembered by the older 
members, as will his friendly and civil traits to 
strangers who have had occasion to visit the place 
in times past. 

The quaint and picturesque cottage of old Roman 
Goetz is still standing at the foot of the hill, near to 
the edge of the highway and opposite the entrance 
to the bye-road leading up to the hill. A view of 
this romantic and ancient land-mark is given on 
page forty- three. The cottage is built from logs 
hewn on both sides, chinked and pointed with plaster 
inside and out. Its steep gables are shingled and 
the roof to the south projects several feet beyond the 
main part, forming a balcony or portico which is 
boarded up and down. A pair of stairs starting 
from the ground leads up into the dormitory. In the 
balcony is a small window made at such a height 
that a person standing and looking south will have 
the church property directly before him. From this 
commanding position the entrance to the grounds 
and the church are plainly seen, as is, also, a portion 
of the pathway leading to the top of the hill. 

A rude picket-fence in front and a rail fence on the 
sides and rear enclose the cottage. Tall elms of 
native growth at the rear spread out their long 
branches high above the cottage roof. In former 
years this humble home did service as a hotel, where 
hundreds of strangers yearly rested from their tire- 
some journeys, and satisfied their hunger at the 
plain but hospitable board of Roman Goetz. His 
name will long live in grateful remembrance along 



CHURCH HISTORY. 69 

side of those who, like Joseph Kohler, his sons and 
others, were ever foremost and ready in promoting 
the interest of their church and the popularity of 
Holy Hill. 

Father Hasselbauer continued to minister to the 
parishes in Richfield and oversee the hill property 
until relieved by his successor, Rev. George Strickner, 
in the year of 1861. It is reported that he died 
several years ago, but the time or place of his death 
is not known to the writer. He is highly spoken of 
by those of his congregation who are still living, as a 
priest who had the respect and co-operation of eA r ery 
member of the church in the fields of his ministerial 
labors. His name will long be associated with the 
early history of the church, from the fact of his 
having blessed the cross and held the first divine 
services on Holv Hill. 




COTTAGE HOME OF ROMAN GOETZ. 



SEE ILLUSTRATION PAGE 43. 



(from the hermit of holy hill.) 



When pilgrims trav'ling to the shrine 
Approach the spot where christians wait, 

They pass the highway's steep decline 
And halt before the rustic grate. 



to' 



Here on the hillside, standing near 
The winding highwa\^'s rugged bend, 

Is seen a cottage, quaint and queer, 
With stairwav on its outer end. 



'Tis built from logs, each hewn with care; 

Its shingled gables, deftly laid; 
With balcony above the stair, 

In rude simplicity is made. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 

One window on its southern side — 
A sort of look-out, if you will — 

Takes in the landscape far and wide, 
And keeps a guard o'er Holy Hill. 

The vine-clad walls, that half conceal 
The entrance to this rural cot, 

Doth lend a charm that makes one feel 
As loth to leave this rustic spot. 

Here elms of ancient growth outspread 
Their old fantastic boughs on high, 

And weave a second roof o'er head, 
Betwixt the cottage and the sky. 

Built in its rude and rustic way — 
True copy of the Alpine cot — 

A haven and a home, they say, 
Who chance this wild secluded spot. 



Here dwelt old Roman Goetz, long years 
The guard and guide to Holy Hill; 

This was his home, and as appears, 
Where all were greeted with good-will. 



For Roman's welcome free from guile, 
As sanctioned by his proffered hand, 

Made many a weary pilgrim smile, 
And feel at home in stranger land. 



72 HOLY HILL. 

None came that way but halted here — 
He held the Chapel's iron key, 

Yet all in welcome worshipped there, 
And with his kind approval free. 

His cottage old and rude still stands, 
Near to the winding highway's edge, 

Where many a weary traveler lands. 
To rest him from his pilgrimage. 



But Roman Goetz, the man of worth, 
No longer bids the pilgrim rest; 

But sleeping with the good of earth, 
His soul's reward is with the blest. 







SHRINE BY THE WAY-SIDE. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 



REV. GEORGE STRICKNER. 



|-^ev. George Strickner succeeded Father Hassel- 
■^ ^ — — *s bauer to the pastorate of the churches of 
St. Boniface and St. Augustine in Richfield in 1861. 
When assuming the charge of those parishes the care 
and protection of the hill property were also assigned 
to him. About this time a number of the members 
of St. Augustine's congregation, especially those 
residing near the hill, conceived the plan of building 
a little chapel for worship on the hill near the cross. 
They laid their plans before Father Strickner, who, 
not only sanctioned their request, but gave them 
encouragement in aid of their undertaking. 

Work on the little chapel was begun in the summer 
of 1862. Though the church as contemplated, was 
simply a small structure, yet to build it was quite an 



76 HOLY HILL. 

undertaking owing to the difficulty in getting the 
material up the steep and rough hillside; and the 
succeeding winter had nearly passed away before all 
the material was on the ground. It was built of 
logs smoothh' hewn on two sides, and were all made 
the same length, as the building was to be just 
sixteen feet square. The timbers were cut and all 
prepared ready for laying, down at the bottom of 
the hill. To get them to the place required much 
time and a vast amount of hard labor. The}^ were 
first hauled about halfway up with a team, to a 
level spot at the upper end of the ravine. From 
there, resting on levers, they were carried up the rest 
of the way by hand. 

On Good Friday, 1863, the little chapel on Holy 
Hill was raised, the people coming from far and near 
to assist in the work. It did not take long to com- 
plete the building and get it ready for dedication. 
On the twenty-fourth day of May, 1863, being the 
Titular Feast of the church and termed <k Feast of St. 
Mary's help of Christians," Rev. George Strickner 
blessed the chapel with solemn ceremonies. On that 
day the first sermon on Holy Hill was preached to 
an audience numbering, at least fifteen hundred 
persons. It was delivered from the step in front of 
the door, the immense congregation standing 
densely covering the entire summit of the hill. 

The little chapel was sixteen feet square, stood 
on a stone foundation and fronted to the west. Its 
stone walls had an elevation of about twelve feet 
higher than that of the new church; that much of 
the top of the hill having been graded down when 
the foundation for the new church was laid. The 



CHURCH HISTORY. 77 

exact location of the old chapel was nearly the same 
as that now occupied by the sacristy of the new 
church. On the outside it was about ten feet high 
from the ground to eaves, and on the inside some 
eight feet between floor and ceiling. It contained a 
door, to the west, and four windows, two at the 
north and two on the south side. The inside walls 
were painted and plastered, as was the ceiling over- 
head. The interior contained a rude altar, neatly 
covered, and on which were arranged various 
articles, such as are generally used in Catholic places 
of worship. The walls were adorned with pictures 
and charts illustrative and commemorative of events 
in the history of the christian religion. In the south- 
west corner stood a number of crutches and above 
them hung several other tokens of diseases, which 
had been left there, as evidence of cures, by those 
who had been relieved of their afflictions through 
the potent, yet inscrutable efficacy of earnest and 
sincere prayer. A bench in front of the altar and 
one at each side of the building, a brass vessel for 
holding holy water and box for offerings completed 
the inner outfit of the chapel. 

On the exterior, over the door, was fastened an 
image of Christ upon the Cross. It was about one- 
third life size, and the same one that is represented on 
page seventy-three in the cut entitled, "a shrine by 
the wayside." The exterior walls, from the base to a 
height as far as could be reached, were cut and carved 
with dates and names, until not a single space on 
either of the four walls was left large enough, even 
for a monogram. 

It must be a strange motive or infatuation that 



78 HOLY HILL. 

prompts one to commit a misdemeanor of this kind; 
a crime in the nature of sacrilege as defined by our 
laws, by defacing a place of public worship. He, 
who does this, considers but little, that aside from 
laying himself liable to a fine and imprisonment, he 
is carving his name where it will stand as a monu- 
ment of his egotism and his lasting shame and 
disgrace. 

Rev. George Strickner continued as priest of the 
Richfield parishes and custodian of the hill property 
for about ten years, or until 1870. He has long 
since retired from the ministry and is now living at 
Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He was a man of fine 
scholarly attainments, social and entertaining to all 
who formed his acquaintance. His old parishioners 
still speak highly of him as a paternal friend and 
spiritual adviser. 





BELL TOWER AND CROSS. 



EARLY CUSTODIANS OF THE HILL. 




oly Hill was under the direct charge of the 
priests who officiated at St. Hubert's parish, 
from the time of its purchase by Father Paulhuber 
in May, 1855, to the year of 1883, when it passed 
to the keeping of Rev. N. M. Zimmer, pastor of the 
Hartford congregation, and in whose custody it has 
since remained. 

Of the many priests who had charge of the prop- 
erty during that interval of thirty years, only a few 
figured prominently in its history or were connected 
with its improvements. But, as a matter of history, 
and to show who have had charge of the property 
since its purchase from Government to the present 
time, we give the names of the officiating priests and 
their approximate terms of service. 

At the time when Father Paulhuber purchased 
the property, St. Hubert's congregation was in 
charge of Rev. M. Peiffer, who officiated until the 



82 HOLY HILL. 

spring of 1856. His successor was Rev. F. B. Has- 
selbauer whose term lasted to August, 1859. Then 
followed two very short terms, first by Rev. B. Weik- 
mann, from August, 1859 till January-, 1860, and 
second by Rev. M. Heiss to June, 1861. These are now 
all dead, the last named, Rev. Heiss, having died as 
pastor of St. Andrew's church, at LeRoy, Dodge Co., 
in July of 1890. Rev. George Strickner folio w r ed as 
pastor from June, 1861 to 1865. Rev. Francis Spath, 
who died while pastor of the Sehleisingerville 
church, September 17, 1890, succeeded Rev. Strick- 
ner but officiated only on a few occasions. 

Rev. A. Foeckler succeeded Father Spath from the 
fall of 1865 to March 1867. Rev. Foeckler died at 
Racine in the fall of 1889. Rev. John Gamber was 
then pastor from March, 1867 to 1870. He, also, has 
died. Rev. A. Michels then officiated for one year, 
closing with January, 1871. Rev. Michels is now 
chaplain of Greenfield Park Convent, Milwaukee Co. 
His successor was ReA r . J. H. Korfhage, who con- 
tinued to January , 1872, and who is now chaplain 
and pastor near Jefferson, Wisconsin. 

Rev. John Welter now filled the place till May, 
1875. Rev. Welter, after leaving St. Hubert's church 
officiated for a short time at Paris, Kenosha county, 
where his failing health finally compelled him to 
resign his charge. He died in the city of Kenosha 
in the year of 1877, and was buried at Holy Cross, 
Ozaukee Co. His successor was Reverend Ferdinand 
Raess, who was pastor from Ma}-, 1875 to the fall 
of 1883, at which time the custodianship of the hill 
property was passed to the Rev. N. M. Zimmer, 
pastor of St. Kilian's church at Hartford. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 83 

During the time that Rev. Ferdinand Raess had 
charge of St. Hubert's church, extending through a 
term of eight years, the church records show that at 
various times Revs. A. Ambauer, L. Beck and Dom- 
inicus, Capuchin Father, of the order of St. Francis, 
held services there. As the custody of Holy Hill 
passed from St. Hubert's church with the ending of 
the pastorate of Father Raess, it is only necessar}' to 
add that the intervening time has been filled by the 
Rev. gentlemen in the following order: Capuchin 
Father and Rev. Peter Frieden from 1883 to 1884; 
by Rev. August Albers, from 1884 to 1886; by Rev. 
A. F. Schinners from 1886 to 1887, and by Rev. B. 
Weyer, from 1887 to June, 1890, since which date 
the church has been, and now is, presided over by 
the Rev. N. J. Nickel, and to whom we are greatly 
indebted for much of the information contained in 
this chapter. 

It is stated on the authority of Rev. N. M. Zim- 
mer, that all of the Rev. Fathers mentioned above 
prior to Rev. John Welter, resided at St. Boniface, 
and only attended St. Hubert's and St. Augustine's 
as out-missions. Rev. John Welter was the first 
priest to reside at St. Hubert's church. Rev. Paul- 
huber resided at St. Boniface when he purchased the 
Hoh r Hill property. 



REV. FERDINAND RAESS. 



he time when Father Raess assumed charge 
of St. Hubert's church marks the beginning of 
the rise which culminated in the distinguished promi- 
nence to which Holy Hill has attained. He it was, 
who seemingly foresaw for the future that which had 
been prophesied by Father Paulhuber twenty years 
previous to his time; and well and ardently, for 3 r ears, 
did he labor that the wonderful prediction might be 
fulh- verified. Time has demonstrated that his labor 
was not in vain. 

During the time he had charge of the property he 
not only encouraged, but generously contributed to, 
many of the lasting improvements that now adorn 
that noted and sacred place of worship. During his 
custodianship the roadway leading from below to 
the summit of the hill was graded so as to allow 
teams to ascend and descend with comparative ease 
and safety. He witnessed the planting of the first 



CHURCH HISTORY. 85 

Stations by the side of the beautiful and romantic 
pathwa}^. He sanctioned the removal of the "little 
chapel on the hill;" the ground upon which it stood 
to be leveled; he saw in its place rise the grand 
edifice which now ornaments its summit, and he took 
part in the ceremonies at its dedication. 

Reverend Ferdinand Raess was born at Glaris, 
Glarus county, Switzerland, on the 31st day of Jan- 
uary, 1831. He received his early education in a 
g3^mnasium school presided over by Benedictine 
Father of Disentis, at Grison. He afterwards at- 
tended the Episcopal seminary at Chur, and where 
he completed his course of education and graduated 
in the studies of philosophy and theology. He was or- 
dained a priest at Chur, County of Grison, by Bishop 
"Von Carl," on the third day of August, 1856, and 
soon afterwards entered upon his priestly duties and 
performed clerical work in the old conntry for about 
eleven years. 

In 1867 he immigrated to this country, landing in 
the city of New York on the 27th day of July of that 
year. On his arrival in this country he assumed 
charge of a parish at Ellen ville, in the state of New 
York, which he continued to 1871. He then went to 
Covington, Kentucky, where he officiated as a priest 
until 1873. He then came to Wisconsin and took 
charge of a congregation at Manitowoc. He remain- 
ed there until he assumed charge of the parishes of 
St. Hubert and St. Augustine in Richfield, April 9th, 
1875, with residence at the former place. He was 
pastor of those congregations until September 1883, 
serving a longer term than any before him or since. 
After leaving St. Hubert's the author is uncertain as 



86 HOLY HILL. 

to where he passed the next succeeding five 3-ears of 
his life. However, we know he assumed charge of the 
parish at New Berlin, Waukesha county and entered 
upon his duties there, July 3rd, 1888. He continued 
as pastor of that parish until the present year, and 
is now the priest of a congregation at Kieler, Grant 
county, Wisconsin. 

Father Raessmust have been possessed of a most 
wonderful fund of force, energy and executive ability, 
for while ministering to the spiritual wants of two 
separate congregations, he still managed to find 
time to superintend the manifold improvements that 
were constantly going on at the Hill during his eight 
year term of service. These improvements were 
many and some of them quite expensive, requiring 
a large outlay of money to meet the constant 
demands for labor and materials; and, with not an 
overstocked treasury, to meet these requirements 
was a task of no small importance. It is a matter 
of record that during those eight years he traveled 
far and over a wide extent of country, visiting num- 
erous parishes and was quite successful in soliciting 
aid byway of donations which was used to carry on 
and complete the works which he had undertaken. 

His first noteworthy act was in correcting the 
imperfect title to the propert\ r , and subsequently by 
having the title transferred from the trustees of St. 
Mary's chapel of Erin, to the most Rev. John Mar in 
Henni, archbishop of the Milwaukee diocese. This 
transfer, brought about at his personal instance and 
request, was consummated May 26, 1876, the next 
year after the keeping of the property had been dele- 
gated to him. 





^ 





— ' -7 



CHURCH HISTORY. 89 

Two years later a very important and attractive 
feature was added to the Hill. This was by establish- 
ing "the way of the Cross," and erecting the first 
stations by the pathway. It is not positively cer- 
tain that Father Raess was the prime mover in this 
improvement, yet certain it is that the work was 
done dtiring his custodianship, and consequently 
must have been done with his knowledge and 
approval. It is stated, and on good authority, that 
the first "stations of the Cross" were established at 
the suggestion or by request of the Rev. Dominicus, 
Capuchin Father, and were blessed by him in the 
year 1878. 

These stations, which were simply crosses, were 
made by George Klippel of Richfield. They were not 
of the most durable kind, being made from pine, 
about six inches wide, four inches in thickness and 
stood about eight feet high above ground. The top 
and ends of the arms were ornamented in resem- 
blance of a clover leaf, conforming to the accepted 
pattern of the Roman Cross. In the center square, 
where the arms crossed the upright, was fastened a 
picture, each one commemorative of some scene or 
act in the trial, sentence and crucifixion of Christ. 
Below, and in front of each station, was placed a low 
stool or bench on which pilgrims knelt to pray while 
making the "stations of the Cross." 

Most of the old stations had different locations 
from those now occupied by the present ones. Old 
station number ten, is shown on page 73, standing 
at the left in the cut of the "shrine by the way side." 
This little shrine or chapel, was built in the spring of 
1879, and made as a depository and for the safe 



90 HOLY HILL. 

keeping of such articles of worship as were contained 
in the old log chapel on the hill, and which was torn 
down to give place for the new church which was 
then being built. By another writer on the history 
of the Hill, this little shrine is illustrated and called 
the ''Hermit's Hut." This is a grave error, as the 
shrine was built several years after the hermit had 
departed from the place. It was taken down as soon 
as the new church was so far completed as to offer 
shelter and security for the church fixtures. 

When the first stations were erected, in 1878, a 
new pathway was laid out from below to the top of 
the hill, along which the stations were placed. The 
new route deviated somewhat from the old one, 
being farther to the west and traversed the high 
ground from the beginning. The old and new path- 
way met just a few feet north of where the new 
station, number nine, now stands. The following 
y ear Father Raess caused the new route to be graded 
as a roadway, to facilitate the getting of materials 
up the hill for the new church which was commenced 
in 1879. 

Prior to the time when Father Raess took charge 
of the property, the Hill had gained but little more 
than a local celebrity. It was, however, well pat- 
ronized by the members of neighboring parishes on 
all regular "feast days." During the pleasant sum- 
mer season, might be seen there, many stranger 
pilgrims, who came to worship in solitude. Also, 
one might see there many who were bowed down 
with afflictions from various diseases who were seek- 
ing relief through hope, faith and prayer. 

With the advent of Father Raess the Hill began 



CHURCH HISTORY. 91 

to assume an air of prominence and popularity, and 
has continued to grow in popular favor with each 
succeeding year, until now it stands without a rival 
of its kind anywhere upon this continent. On all 
regular "feast days" the people that congregate there 
are numbered by thousands. They come from long- 
distances, and on such occasions nearly every city in 
the state is represented. During the summer season 
thousands of strangers from different states and 
countries visit this noted place. Some are simple 
tourists seeking pleasure amid these rural haunts; 
others are led there merely to gratify a sensitive or 
morbid curiosity; but by far the greater number of 
visitors are pilgrims and religious devotees who 
come to worship in solitude and do homage at the 
sacred shrine ofMary. 

The stations are fourteen in number, and are 
distributed at regular intervals along the pathway 
from the entrance to the grounds to the church on 
the hill-top. This whole pilgrimage, which is eigh- 
teen hundred and sixty-two feet in length, has been 
fairty graded for pedestrians, and is frequently used 
as a carriage-way, though not with any degree of 
safety. It meanders the hill hy a circuitous route and 
up the steep ascent to the summit where it reaches 
an altitude of two hundred and sixty feet above the 
gateway. 

The entire pathway leads through a dense forest 
which is still standing in all its original beauty and 
pristine grandeur. A deep gloom, even at mid-day, 
over-shadows its whole extent, causing a sense of 
loneliness and profound sanctity to take possession 
of all who tread this sacred domain. 



92 HOLY HILL. 

When one has passed through the gateway and 
stands before station one, by some strange and 
unseen agenc}-, the sacredness of the place suddenly 
becomes manifest. He is at once deeply impressed 
with the mysterious solemnity everywhere present. 
This sense of feeling comes to all who sojourn within 
that sacred enclosure, and most reverently do all 
respect and comply with the divine attribute. This 
is invariably so, whether they are professors of 
Christianity, unbelievers or atheists. 

Watch the long procession of devotees as the}^ 
move slowly and solemnly onward from station to 
station, and } r ou will see no sign of levity or mirth 
reflected on the features of any. All worship with 
that calm serenity and meek devotion known only 
to the true followers of Christ. Witnessing this, the 
most stoic infidel must be obdurate indeed if he is 
not influenced to seriousness and compassion by the 
solemnity which surrounds him. 

Most wonderful pilgrimage! How matchlessly 
grand, amidst th} r sylvan groves, God's temples ! 
How intensly charming surrounded by thy rural 
beauties ! This most worshipful stretch of solitude, 
where every soul might hide himself away with God 
and be invisible to all save those to whom he would 
reveal himself. 



f 



THE PILGRIMAGE. 



(from the hermit of holy hill.) 



Where forests as ancient as Time in its race, 
Surround Holy Hill from its summit to base; 
In the shade of that wild wood, gloomy and deep, 
One lone narrow pathway meanders the steep. 

Up the steep hillside with brambles o'er grown, 
And through the dark valley, deserted and lone, 
Still onward it winds to the hill's highest crest, 
The goal of the pilgrim — the shrine of the blest. 

Worn is the pathway where christians have trod 
For years in this solitude, worshipping God; 
No place is more sacred, none more opportune, 
Where man with his Saviour alone can commune. 



94 HOLY HILL. 

Along this steep pathway, and through the defile, 
There yon meet hundreds, but never a smile 
Can be seen on the faces of pilgrims who go, 
Toiling with steps that are measured and slow. 

Still onward and upward with sanctified air — 
Now kneeling at stations they offer their prayer; 
Prayers to the Virgin, and prayers to her Son, 
Who hath died for our sins — the Crucified One. 

All solemn the\- move — the path where the}- tread 
Is moist from the tears by the penitents shed; 
Whilst a halo of brightness illumes their dark way, 
Where forests have shut out the sunlight of day. 

Here you meet pilgrims who hail from afar, 
Beaconed and guided by Mary, the star ! 
Bright radient star of the infinite sea, 
Whose broad waters reach out to eternity. 

The faithful comply with Her righteous behest; 
Inspired they follow the cross on the crest — 
That emblem of christians — His banner unfurled, 
Shines bright o'er the hill -top, a light to the world. 

Some in the strength of their manhood are there— 
The maid and the matron the pilgrimage share; 
Whilst many, whose tottering footsteps betray 
The sad burdens of life, have met here to pray. 

The sightless are groping their way in the dark; 
And those with the seal of infirmity's mark — 
Forms that are bowed with affliction you meet, 
Who for worship have come to this sacred retreat. 






CHURCH HISTORY. 95 

Here you find mingling th? high with the low, 
The rich with the child of misfortune and woe. 
All meet on one level, they seek but to win 
Salvation of soul through redemption from sin. 

They kneel at one altar, they worship but One; 
For in unit are Spirit, the Father and Son: 
Relief from life's burdens, they ask and implore — 
Belief and repentance, through prayer can restore 

Faith in the promise of Him who hath said — 
"Believe thou in me, and though ye are dead, 
Yet shall ye live," and His promise Divine, 
Brings comfort to all who kneel at His shrine. 



~_ 






BUILDING THE NEW CHURCH. 



/—A s the patronage of the Hill gradually increased 
*■ — — *s with each succeeding year Father Raess 
early saw the necessity of having a more commodious 
place for worship than that afforded by the little log 
chapel. He, therefore, conceived the idea of building 
a church of dimensions suitable to accommodate the 
thousands that assembled there on all especial days 
of worship. Accordingly, early in the winter of 1879, 
he communicated his purpose to the most Rev. Arch- 
bishop Henni, who not onry approved of the under- 
taking suggested, but also offered him aid in the 
prosecution of the contemplated improvement. 

Thus encouraged, he next applied to architect 
H. C. Koch of Milwaukee, who, for one hundred 
dollars, furnished him with the plans and specifica- 
tions, together with estimated cost of the improve- 
ments designed. It was yet in mid-winter when the 
plans were finished and approved, and Father Raess 
lost no time in getting everything in readiness to 
commence building the church early in the spring. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 97 

The specifications called for two hundred thou- 
sand bricks and to obtain these was the most serious 
problem that presented itself in the way of building. 
No bricks were made nearer than Schleisingerville, 
seven miles distant, and the road between there and 
the Hill was rough and very hilly. To overcome 
this obstacle Father Raess consulted an experienced 
brickmaker, one John Rover of Sheboygan, to ascer- 
tain if bricks might not be made in the vicinity of the 
Hill. He was told by him, if a quantity of suitable 
clay could be found anywhere in that neighborhood 
there would be no difficulty, as there was plenty of 
good sand in the range of hills, and he promised to 
prospect for clay as soon as the ground would per- 
mit. Accordingly, he came early in the spring and 
made an examination of the soil at various points 
adjacent to the hill. Fortunately a bed of good clay 
was found about sixty rods north of the northeast 
corner of the hill property. Here he at once com- 
menced the work of making bricks for the church, 
which when burned were found to be of an excellent 
quality. The debris, showing the location of the kilns 
where the bricks were made, can still be plainly seen 
just to the left of, and a few rods after leaving, the 
highway for the Hill. 

The frost had barely left the ground in the spring 
of 1879, when a large force of men were set at work 
grading down the top of the hill and leveling a space 
sufficiently large for the foundation of the new church 
and for the convenience of building. It is estimated 
that the hill was lowered some seven feet from its 
original height before the level space was brought 
down to the required size. 



98 HOLY HILL. 

B\ T a peculiar formation of the hill the ground 
thus leveled would not permit of standing the church 
in a true line with the primary points of compass. 
Therefore, to accommodate its size to the situation 
it was located fronting nearly south, with its sides 
extending from the front corners twenty-three 
degrees east from a line running due north and south. 

Getting the materials for building up the steep 
hill was another serious difficulty and must have 
involved quite an expense, when we consider, as 
stated, that two hundred bricks were accounted a 
sufficient load for an ordinary team to haul up the 
hill. Fortunately, enough stones for the foundation 
were procured by leveling down the hill, but to get 
all other needed material on the ground was no 
inexpensive or light task. 

The contract for doing the work was let to John 
Fellenz of Milwaukee for five thousand dollars and 
was built in accordance with the original plan as 
furnished by architect Koch. It has an extreme 
length of seventy feet, with extension for altar, and 
a width of forty-six feet, with an annex at the north- 
east corner for a sacristy , eighteen feet square. The 
walls are twenty feet high to the eaves, are solid 
brick and iron-anchored to the heavy stone founda- 
tion. The roof is steep, and above it rises the steeple 
surmounted with a gilt cross the top of which has an 
elevation of sixty-eight feet above the stone water 
table. Each of the corners and side walls are doubh- 
strengthened with heav\- brick buttresses extending 
from the stone foundation to the cap or cornice. 

The church is lighted with fourteen high Gothic 
windows, five on each side and two each, at the 



CHURCH HISTORY. 99 

rear and front. It also has two circular windows 
one in each gable, the one in front being located 
directly above the high arched doorway. The glass 
in the windows is stained a variety of colors and 
is ornamented and so arranged as to produce a 
most pleasing effect. 

The corner stone, which was not placed in posi- 
tion until June, is located in the southwest corner 
and about three feet above the ground. It is a 
dressed lime stone, about one foot in thickness and 
twenty inches square. On its south exposed surface 
is the inscription — "Erected 1879," the letters and 
numerals being deeply sunken in the face. The water 
table, window and door sills and coppings of the 
buttresses are made from dressed lime stone. 

The ground on both sides of the church and in 
the rear has been evenly graded, leaving a fine prom- 
enade, from ten to fifteen feet wide on each side, and 
twenty -five feet in the rear to the north. This point 
is the grand observatory, and where all who visit 
the hill love to linger long in viewing the beautiful 
panorama spread out far below and around them. 
A small amount of money and labor might be profit- 
ably expended in leveling up and beautifying the 
ground in front of the church, and which, undoubt- 
edly will ere long be done. 

Owing to the many difficulties, causing frequent 
and long delays, the work of building progressed 
slowly. During the winter season the work was en- 
tirely suspended, and it was not until three summers 
had nearly passed away that the church was so far 
completed as to be ready for dedication. At length 
all was in readiness, and on a beautiful autumn day, 



100 HOLY HILL. 

September eighth, 1881, in the presence of a vast 
assemblage, the chtirch was blessed with solemn cer- 
emonies by the most Rev. Arch-bishop Heiss. On this 
solemn occasion the new church was christened. 
St. Mary's Auxiliutn Christianorum, or St. Mary's 
Help of Christians. 

Father Raess lived to enjoy the satisfaction of 
seeing the new church completed under his personal 
management, or at least so far as to afford an ac- 
ceptable and commodious place of worship for its 
constantly increasing patronage. Most assuredly, it 
must have been a source of great pleasure to one, 
who for three long years, had labored so assiduously 
to accomplish such a grand undertaking. For the 
next two j^ears succeeding the dedication of the new 
church Father Raess resided at the hill an d presided 
over its welfare, and where he had the pleasure of 
noting its growing prosperity and popularity. 







BUILDING THE PARSONAGE. 







oon after the work on the new church had been 
commenced, Father Raess removed from St. 
Hubert's parish in Richfield, and took up his resi- 
dence in the old Swiss cottage belonging to Roman 
Goetz, in order to be nearer to the work in which he 
was then engaged. Without doubt, it was this 
change in residence that first suggested to him the 
propriety of building a parsonage in connection with 
the new church. This conclusion is reached from 
the fact that, shortly after his change of residence, 
Ave find him laying plans for the erection of a new 
parsonage on the premises and convenient to the 
church then building. 

The place which he chose for its location was in 
the deep ravine at the foot of the hill to the north; 
a very secluded and picturesque spot. In fact, it was 
nearly identical with the one chosen by the hermit, 



102 HOLY HILL. 

and near which his log hut was built some fifteen 
years previously. The hermit's abode, though then 
untenanted, was still standing; but it was burned 
down the same summer that the church and parson- 
age were begun. The cause of its burning has always 
remained a profound secret and mystery, though by 
some it has been intimated that the rude hovel was 
set on fire b\ r one of the workmen engaged on the 
church. At all events, it was quite natural that its 
uncouth presence could not long be tolerated there 
and especially by the side of so stateh T a building 
soon to take its place. 

Father Raess had fully decided to build the new 
parsonage as early as 1879, the same season the 
church was commenced, though nothing was done 
towards it that summer further than selecting a site 
and letting of some contracts. John Fellenz, who 
had the contract for building the church, was 
also awarded the contract for doing the work on 
the parsonage for one thousand dollars. The matter 
of purchasing all necessary materials Father Raess 
reserved for himself. It was not finished and ready 
for occupancy- until late in the fall of 1880. 

The parsonage is built in the modern style of 
architecture and is, altogether a very imposing 
structure. It is three stories high and has a frontage 
to the south of twenty -eight feet, with a width of 
twenty-six feet. The first or lower story is built of 
stone and serves mainly for a kitchen, dining room, 
pantry and cellar. The two upper stories are wood, 
the second being provided with a spacious parlor or 
sitting-room, a study, bedroom and closet. From 
this a door opens into a hall with a stair leading to 






CHURCH HISTORY. 103 

the upper story, which is divided up into several 
sleeping rooms. A wide veranda extends across the 
entire front, its floor being on a level with that of 
the second story. This is reached from the inside by 
a door opening out from the sitting room, and from 
the outside by a stair leading up from the ground 
in front. See page 161. 

A fine view maybe had from the veranda looking 
in any direction one may. Directly before you, to 
the south, at a distance of not more than six rods, 
the hill begins its steep ascent. The side presented to 
view is covered with a dense forest extending up- 
ward to the very summit; while far up on the hill- 
top, above the highest foliage, are seen the roof and 
steeple to the church, and above all, the bright gilded 
cross glitters against the sky like the sun's rays 
reflected from the still surface of some tranquil lake. 
To the east, through the deep gorge, extends a 
beautiful, smooth, narrow lawn, in which are grow- 
ing a number of vigorous looking fruit trees. Above 
their tops, which are far below the level on which 
you stand, away in the distance are seen the fruitful 
fields of husbandry. Looking west, the hill rises up 
just before you, almost perpendicularly, to a height 
of sixty feet until it meets the graded pathway lead- 
ing to the summit of the hill. From here one can trace 
its meandering course for quite a distance in either 
direction. At this point four of the fourteen stations 
can be readily observed, a greater number than can 
be seen at one time from any other one point on the 
whole hill. 

Father Raess took possession of the new parson- 
age in October, 1880, and continued to reside there 



104 HOLY HILL. 

until September, 1883, at which time he relinquished 
his custodianship of the Holy Hill property. Since 
he vacated the parsonage it has never been occupied 
as a residence by any one, and perhaps, never will be 
again, for it is conceded by nearly all, that as a place 
for solitary devotion, and as a pilgrimage where 
solitude is an essential element, the place loses the 
greater part of its charm and solemnity by having a 
human abode inhabited within its sacred precincts. 
Father Raess performed a great and good mis- 
sion, and retired from his field of labor with the 
respect and good will of all with whom he had any 
dealings. The extent of his labor, during the last 
four years he had charge of the hill, is told by the 
recorded fact, that he expended the aggregate sum 
of ten thousand and nine hundred dollars for the 
improvements on Hoty Hill. To meet the payment 
of the expenses incurred, he received from the most 
Rev. M. Heiss, five thousand dollars. The balance, 
five thousand and nine hundred dollars was made 
up by donations and from his own money, the latter 
portion being by far the largest amount. 



"|i9 



REV. NICHOLAS M. ZIMMER. 



I hat credit which is due and conceded to Father 
Raess for his valued services and munificent 
donations, which have contributed so largely to the 
popularity of Holy Hill, is likewise justly due and 
accorded to his eminent successor, the Rev. Father 
Zimmer. Fortunate, it was, for the present and 
future greatness of the Hill, that the custody of the 
property passed immediately after Father Raess, to 
one who has exercised so much care in preserving 
and completing the man}' improvements begun by 
his most worthy predecessor. During the many 
years that Father Zimmer has had charge of the 
property, not one has passed by without something- 
having been added in the way of improving and 
beautifying the place. 

Like his predecessor, Father Zimmer, during his 
term of service, has had the care of ministering to 
the spiritual wants of two separate congregations , 



106 HOLY HILL. 

that of St. Kilian's in Hartford, and of St. Patrick's 
in Erin. He also, like Father Raess, has devoted the 
greater part of his spare time to the improvement 
of Holy Hill, in the management of which, his en- 
deavor has been marked by the utmost energy', zeal 
and devotion. All his labors in this direction have 
been executed with precision and econom\ T , and 
never in excess of the resources at his command. 

One instance illustrative of his exact and syste- 
matic method of discharging the duties assigned to 
him, is noticed in the fact, that each 3'ear he prepares 
an annual statement, showing all the receipts and 
expenditures. These are printed on slips of paper 
and passed out to the congregation at the Titular 
feast of the church, which occurs on the twenty- 
fourth day of W&y, being the commencement of 
solemn services on Holy Hill in each year. For the 
benefit of those who may hereafter peruse this book, 
and that the unacquainted may have a better 
knowledge of the benign and courteous priest, whose 
personal efforts conduced so much to perpetuate the 
fame and celebrity of Holy Hill, the following brief 
biography is appended. 

Reverend Nicholas M. Zimmer is the eldest son 
of John and Catharine, nee Friedrich, Zimmer, who 
emigrated from their native land, Rhenish Prov- 
ince, Germany, in 1847. Soon after their arrival in 
this country they purchased a farm near Menomonee 
Falls, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and where 
Nicholas M., the present Rev. Father Zimmer, was 
born, January 10th, 1848. His parents continued to 
live upon the old homestead until 1873, at which 
time their son had charge of St. Alphonius church at 




* 



4 



CHURCH HISTORY. 109 

New Mtmster, when they transferred the farm to their 
youngest son and have since made their home with 
him. They are both still living, and though each has 
attained to the allotted age of human expectancy, 
yet notwithstanding their years both are still in the 
enjoyment of good health. 

His early life and boyhood's days were passed at 
his parents' home, and did not differ materially from 
those usually known to boys brought up on a farm. 
He had his full share of incidents and accidents com- 
mon to youth, some of which, at times, were of so 
severe and serious a nature as to endanger his young- 
life. He received his first education in a parochial 
school atFussville, to attend which he was obliged 
to travel three miles, morning and evening. It was 
at this place where he received his first holy com- 
munion when eleven years of age. He afterwards 
attended for two terms a public school which was 
taught near his own home. When fourteen years of 
age he entered St. Francis Seminary near Milwaukee, 
where he commenced and completed his course of 
classical and ecclesiastical studies. 

At the age of twenty-two years and eleven 
months, on the seventeenth day of December 1870, he 
was ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. John 
Martin Henni. A note worthy incident in his history 
is, that he said his first mass on the Christmas day 
following his ordination in St. Anthony's church in 
Fussville, being the same church in which he was 
baptized, and where he received his first holy com- 
munion and was confirmed. 

It was on the first day of January 1871, that 
Rev. Father Zimmer received his first appointment, 



110 HOLY HILL. 

as assistant priest to the Rev. Conrad, of Holy 
Trinity church in Milwaukee, which position he 
filled until May of the same year, when he was sent 
to take charge of St. John's congregation at Paris, 
Kenosha county. He remained there until June, 1872, 
when he was called to take charge of St. Joseph's 
parish at Grafton, Ozauke county, where he remained 
to October of that year. From that time, and until 
May 1874, he had charge of St. Alphonius' church at 
New Minister, Kenosha count}-. He was then ap- 
pointed as priest in charge of St. Francis church at 
Lake Geneva, Walworth county, which has an Irish 
congregation with a German outmission. He re- 
mained there until the eighth day of October 1883, 
when he was called to the charge of St. Kilian's con- 
gregation at Hartford, and where he at present 
resides. 

Since his residence in Hartford, Father Zimmer, 
aside from the clerical duties devolving upon him by 
reason of the two congregations already mentioned, 
has devoted a goodly share of his spare time in an 
endeavor to promote and perpetuate the good name 
of Holy Hill. His attention was early directed to 
the proper observance of all regular feast-days that 
occur during the season of divine service there. On 
these occasions many priests from the neighboring 
parishes, and frequently from long distances, by his 
invitation congregate there to take part and assist 
in the solemn ceremonies of the occasions. 

At least two weeks previous to the days fixed 
for such selomn observances, at his request, word is 
given out of the event by the neighboring priests 
in their respective churches. He also causes notice 



CHURCH HISTORY. Ill 

to be published in the local papers, and even in some 
printed as far away as Milwaukee, giving the time 
and place, the name and religious meaning of each 
day of hoty obligation. 

So thoroughly and practically does he cause 
these notices to go out before the public that on these 
feast days the people flock to the Hill from near and 
far, and the multitude that gathers there can usually 
be numbered by the thousands. At such times, not 
only does one meet there people who come for miles 
around and from every direction, but also, are seen 
hundreds of strangers who have come from their 
homes in distant parts of the country. 

There are five principal feast-days celebrated 
on Holy Hill during the summer of each year, and as 
a rule there may be six. These days are particularly 
described in their order in a subsequent chapter of 
this book. Besides these particular days of solemn 
services, there are other days set apart during the 
pleasant summer months for excursions which come 
by railroad from the larger cities. Also, congrega- 
tions in the neighborhood surrounding the hill 
usually select one day for a private pilgrimage, and 
which is known only to the members of that par- 
ticular congregation. 

On excursion days the railroad trains usually 
stop at the Hartford station, the hill being reached 
from there better than from any other point on the 
road, it being somewhat nearer, a better road and 
the facilities of getting to and from the hill are far 
better than at any other station. Yet even at such 
times, when excursionists come by the hundreds, it 
requires considerable generalship on the part of 



112 . HOLY HILL. 

Father Zimmer to marshal a sufficient number of 
carriages to convey all comfortably to the hill. 

It is not the intention of the author to follow 
here all the improvements made by Father Zimmer 
during his long custodianship of the hill. These will 
all be given in detail in a subsequent chapter. As the 
building of the new stations, or "Way of the Cross," 
was done under his direction, it is deemed proper at 
this place to take up the history of their origin, 
giving their use and application to the Catholic 
religion. 




VIA CRUCIS, OR WAY OF THE CROSS. 




o religious denomination, other than the Catho- 
lic, has so rigidly adhered to the ritual, observ- 
ances and customs, established by their church from 
its very commencement and until down to the present 
time. From its earliest history, which originated 
with Christ and his Apostles, there has been but 
little or no change in its ceremonies or forms of 
worship for a space of time covering nearly two 
thousand years. 

Among the many beautiful and impressive cere- 
monies that have remained sacredly unaltered through 
the long lapse of years is what is known as the 
"Way of the Cross," established to memorize the 
sentence, sufferings, death upon the Cross and 
burial of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Per- 
haps in no other way could these memorable events 
be so vividly impressed and fixed upon the mind and 



114 HOLY HILL. 

memory as by this allegorical and figurative method. 
While reverently praying in the presence of these 
sacred mementoes surrounded by the reflections 
of ages past, the true and devout christian seems to 
live, for the time, in the presence of the Saviour of 
men, and contemporaneous with His persecutions 
and death. 

The same feelings of compassion for Him who 
suffered and died upon the cross, and the same indig- 
nation towards His accusers and persecutors, are 
felt by those who reverently and sincerely make the 
Stations of the Cross to-day, as were known and 
felt by the followers of Christ who witnessed the 
Crucifixion on Mount Calvary. The semblance of 
the same scenes are reproduced in statuary ; the same 
prayers are offered, and the Stab at Mater, without 
a word or syllable of alteration is still sung as when 
first composed in the Latin tongue by Jacoponi, who 
died in 1306. He was a Franciscan monk at the 
time of St. Francis Assissi. His proper name was 
Jacob De Benedictis. 

The stations are fourteen in number, each one 
representing some particular event that transpired 
from the time Christ received his death sentence 
before Pilate, until his body was taken from the 
cross and laid in the sepulcher. They are distributed 
at intervals along the pathway leading from the 
entrance to the grounds, to the cross and church on 
the hill-top. 

For the inscriptions, with their interpretation; the 
meditations enjoined upon Pilgrims; the St aba t 
Mater and general explanation of the Stations and 
their uses, we are indebted to a little volume pub- 









STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 115 

lished by H. L. Kliner & Co., with the approbation 
of the Most Rev. Patrick John, archbishop of Phila- 
delphia, November 15th, 1889. They are given in 
the book as follows: 

"Among those devotional exercises which have 
for their object meditation on the Passion, Cross and 
Death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, sover- 
eign remedy for the conversion of sinners, for the 
renovation of the trepid, and for the sanctification 
of the just; one of the chief has ever been the exercises 
of the Way of Calvary called via cruris. This devo- 
tional exercise has continued in an unbroken tradi- 
tion from the time of the crucifixion, when Christ 
ascended into Heaven, arose first in Jerusalem 
amongst the Christians who dwelt there. Out of 
veneration for those sacred spots which were sancti- 
fied by the sufferings of our Divine Redeemer; even 
from the very times of the Gospel, as we learn from 
St. Jerome, Christians were wont to visit the holy 
places in crowds; and there were gathering of all 
persons, he says, even from the farthest corners of 
the earth, to visit those holy places, and which con- 
tinued down to his own times. 

From Jerusalem this devout exercise was intro- 
duced into Europe by various pious and holy persons 
who had traveled to the Holy Land to satisfy their 
devotion. Amongst others, we read of the blessed 
Alvarez, of the order of Friars Preachers, who after 
he returned to his own convent of St. Dominic in 
Cordova, built several little chapels, in which, after 
the way of separate Stations, he had painted the 
principal events which took place on our Lord's way 
to Mount Calvarv. 



116 HOLY HILL. 

In later years observants of the order of St. 
Francis, as soon as the foundation of their Order 
was established, introduced them into the Holy 
Land; and more especially from the year of 1342, 
when they had their house in Jerusalem established, 
and had the custody of the sacred places; then, both 
in Italy and elsewhere, in fact, throughout the whole 
Catholic world, began to spread the devotion of the 
via Cruris. 

This the}^ effected by erecting in their own churches 
fourteen separate stations, in visiting which, it was 
said, that "the faithful, like the devout pilgrims who 
go in person to visit the holy places in Jerusalem, do 
themselves also make this journey in spirit, whilst 
they meditate on all that our Lord Jesus Christ 
vouchsafed to suffer for our eternal salvation at 
those holy places in the last hours of His life." 

Any person in a state of grace, devoutly perform- 
ing the way of the cross, may gain all the indulgences 
ever granted by Popes to the faithful who visit in 
person the sacred places in Jerusalem. It is neces- 
sary, in order to gain these indulgences, to meditate 
on the Passion of our Lord; and if the space where 
the stations are erected, will admit, to go from 
station to station. But no particular form of prayer 
is required to gain the indulgences. 

The sole conditions to gain these indulgences, 
according to the best theologians, are two. 

1st. To go from one Station to another in regular 
order. In crowded churches, where this would be 
impossible for all, it is sufficient for a clergyman with 
one or two of the laity to make the procession, the 
people remaining in their places. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 117 

2dly. To meditate, to the best of one's ability, on 
the Passion of our Lord, with some reference at least 
to the particular event commemorated in each 
Station. 

All other prayers and pious exercises commonly 
given in books of devotion are most useful to fix the 
attention, and so help in the required meditation, 
but they are by no means necessary for gaining the 
indulgences. 

For such persons as cannot visit a church, where 
the Stations are erected, as sick persons, prisoners, 
soldiers in camp, sailors at sea, and all others in 
similar circumstances, there are crucifixes to be had, 
blessed with the indulgences of the Way of the Cross. 
All that is required to gain the indulgences from 
these crucifixes, is to hold them in the hand and to 
recite twenty times the Our Father, the Hail Mary, 
and the Glory be to the Father, etc., that is, once for 
each Station, five times in honor of the Five Wounds 
of our Lord, and one for the Pope's intentions. 




118 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER ONE. 




tation number one stands upon the left of the 
pathway as you commence the ascent of the 
hill. It faces to the north and is twenty-five feet 
from the center of the gateway, at an elevation of 
seven feet and two inches above it and sixty-six feet 
and seven inches above the foot of the hill, measuring 
from the lowest point in the meadow to the east. It 
is backed by trees and a thick shubbery and has a 
very pleasant location. This station is plainly seen 
from the highway, and long before you reach the hill. 
In passing it on your upward journey the direction 
is west, through a deep excavation and up a steep 
rise, at the top of which the pathway takes a grace- 
ful turn nearly to the south, and leads you on to 
station number two. • 

The picture represents Christ, surrounded with 
soldiers, receiving his sentence. In the background 
Pilate is seen in the act of washing his hands, signifi- 
cant that he frees himself from the responsibility of 
the cruel condemnation. 

STAB AT MATER. 

1. Stabat Mater dolorosa, 
Juxta crucem lacrymosa, 
Dum pendebat Filius. 

1. Beneath the world's redeeming wood, 
The most afflicted Mother stood, 
Mingling her tears with her Son's blood. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



119 



The first station of the "Way of the Cross," on 
Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH. 



Christian Meditations. 

Consider how Jesus, after having been scourged 
and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned 
by Pilate to die on the Cross. 




120 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER TWO. 



he position of station two is on the left of the 
pathway and facing west. It stands on nearly 
level ground and is distant from station one, one 
hundred and ninety -four feet, the longest space be- 
tween any two stations. Its elevation, above station 
one, is eleven feet and six inches. It is backed by thick 
underbrush and some large trees. One, a beautiful 
hard maple, stands a little too far to the left to be 
seen in the cut. A few feet north an old bye-road 
leads around the hill to the east and up to the par- 
sonage in the ravine. This road is well grassed over, 
shady and free from underbrush. It is a favorite place 
where man}- halt to rest and lunch. The direction 
from here to station three is south by twenty-eight 
degrees west, and up a gentle rise. 

In this picture are represented but four persons. 
Christ is seen to the front in the act of taking the 
heavy cross upon his shoulders; while in the back- 
ground is seen a heartless looking soldier in the act 
of applying the scourge. 



2. Gujus animam gementem, 
Contrisatam, et dolentem, 
Pertransivit gladius. 

2. Through her heart His sorrows sharing, 
All His bitter anguish bearing, 
Lo ! the piercing sword had passed ! 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



121 



The second station of the "Way of the Cross," on 
Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 



~T1 




JESUS BEARS HIS CROSS. 



Christian Meditations. 

Consider how Jesus in making this journey with 
the Cross on His shoulders, thought on us, and offer- 
ed for us to His Father the death He was about to 
undergo. 




122 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER THREE. 



tation number three is on the left of the path- 
way, and is distant from station two, one 
hundred and five feet. Its elevation above station 
two is twelve feet and eight inches. The side hill has 
been graded away about two feet on the back side, 
to allow the base of the station to stand on a level 
with the pathway . Here the forest trees begin to 
show a larger growth. The one seen directly behind 
the cross at the top of the station is an ironwood of 
remarkable size, being eleven inches in diameter, 
Across the pathway to the west is quite an open 
space, the larger trees for some reason having been 
cut away. From here to station four the direction 
is south by thirty degrees west, and the approach is 
somewhat steeper. 

In the picture are seen four persons. In the fore- 
ground Jesus is represented as having fallen beneath 
the weight of the cross, while in the background his 
merciless tormentors are seen plying the whip of 
torture. 



3. O quam tristis et affiicta, 
Fuit ilia benedicta 
Mater Unigeniti ? 

3. O,how sad and sore distressed 
Now was she, that Mother Blessed 
Of the soul-begotten One. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



123 



The third station, of the "Way of the Cross," on 
Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME. 

Christian Meditations. 
Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. 
His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crown- 
ed with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of 
blood. He was so weakened He could scarcely walk, 
and yet He had to carry this great load upon His 
shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and thus 
He fell several times. 



124 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER FOUR. 



I he fourth station is the first on the right of the 
^ pathway. Its distance from station three is one 
hundred and thirty-two feet, and its elevation above 
it is seventeen feet. Its location is on level ground, 
and in a forest dense and dark. The sunbeams rarely 
shine on station number four when the trees are clad 
in their summer's foliage. The large trees seen upon 
either side are a black oak on the left and a white 
oak on the right. A sense of deep solitude and 
loneliness o'ershadows the spot. From this station 
to number five the way leads, first, to the south and 
then by a circle gradually again to the southwest. 
The picture represents the meeting of Jesus with 
his mother. The face of Jesus is seen covered with 
blood. There are five persons represented in the 
scene, two of whom are women. 



4. Quae moerebat, et dolebat, 
Pia Mater, dum videbat 
Nati poenas inclyti. 

4-. YVoe-begone, with heart's prostration 
Mother meek, the bitter Passion 
Saw she of her glorious Son. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



125 



The fourth station, of the "Way of the Cross," 
on Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS MEETS HIS AFFLICTED MOTHER. 

Christian Meditations. 



Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, 
which took place on this journey. Their looks be- 
came as so many arrows to wound those hearts 
w T hich loved each other so tenderlv. 



126 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER FIVE. 




tation number five stands on the right of the 
pathway one hundred and twelve feet distant 
from station four, and at an elevation above it of 
twelve feet. The hillside had to be graded down 
four feet to bring the base of the station on a level 
with the pathway. Across the way, to the east lies 
the deep valley in which stands the parsonage. From 
this station, looking upward to the southeast, for 
the first time since the pilgrimage began, one catches 
a view of the roof of the church, the steeple and the 
gilded cross above all. It crops out above the thick 
forest which covers the hillside and stands in bold re- 
lief against the sk}\ A sharp turn leading nearly- to 
the west soon brings 3^ou to station number six. 

The picture shows four persons. Jesus is seen 
bowed down beneath the weight of the cross, while 
Simon is in the act of helping him to carry the heavy 
load. Two soldiers in the background are urging 
them forward , whip in hand . 



5. Quis est homo, qui non fleret, 
Matrem Christi si videret 
In tanto stipplicio? 

5. Who could mark, from tears refraining, 
Christ's dear Mother uncomplaining, 
In so s:reat a sorrow bowed? 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



127 



The fifth station, of the "Way of the Cross," on 
Hoh^ Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




SIMON HELPS JESUS TO CARRY THE CROSS. 

Christian Meditations. 

Consider how the Jews, seeing that at each step 
Jesus was on the point of expiring, and fearing He 
would die on the way, when they wished Him to die 
the ignominious death of the Cross, constrained 
Simon, the Cyrenian, to carry the Cross behind our 
Lord. 



128 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER SIX 



I he sixth station is on the right of the pathway, 
* situated in an excavation in the hillside eight 
feet in depth at the rear. Its distance from station 
five is one hundred and twenty-four feet. Its eleva- 
tion above station five is only six feet. Upon the 
surface above the steep embankment the growth of 
timber is thick and heavy, as will be seen in the 
picture. Across the path from the station the ground 
slopes abruptly down to a depth of seventy -five feet. 
Far down in the deep valley, and almost beneath 
your feet is seen the roof of the parsonage, while far 
above you to the southeast is seen the church. The 
view from station six is one of grandeur and rural 
beauty. From this station the pathway changes 
from the southwest to south ten degrees east, to 
station seven. 

The picture at this station represents the meeting 
of Jesus w T ith Veronica. Jesus laden with the cross 
is the central object, while Veronica bows in front 
and offers him a cloth with which to wipe the blood 
and sweat from his brow. 



6. Quis non posset contristari, 
Christi Matrem contemplari 
Dolentem cum Filio ? 

6. Who, unmoved, behold her languish 
Underneath His cross of anguish 
'Mid the fierce, unpity-ing crowd ? 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



129 



The sixth station, of the "Way of the Cross," 
on Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS MEETS VERONICA. 

Christian Meditations. 

Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, 
seeing Jesus so ill-used, and His face bathed in sweat 
and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which 
He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the im- 
pression of His holy countenance. 



130 HOLY HILL. 

STATION NUMBER SEVEN. 



I he seventh station is upon the right of the 
pathway and fronting to the east. It rests in 
an excavation in the hillside thirty inches in depth. 
Its distance from station six is one hundred and 
thirty-two feet. This station is six feet lower than 
station six, a fortunate circumstance, as it serves to 
give the wayfarer an opportunity to rest preparatory 
to the great ascent which is now before him. Two 
rods to the north a bye-road leads to the west, and 
by -which many visitors to the hill from the south 
and west travel. Across the way to the east lies the 
deep valley, where over the climbing grape vines and 
sumac the beautiful meadows and grain fields are 
seen far to the east. Heavy timber backs this 
station and from it the spire of the church is still 
seen. The direction to station eight is south and up 
a gentle rise. 

In the picture are to be seen four persons. Jesus 
is represented as having fallen beneath the burden of 
the cross for the second time. His persecutors are 
seen standing over Him with scourge upraised. 



7. Pro peccatis suae gentis 
Vidit Jesum in tormentis, 
Et flagellis subditum. 

7. For His people's sins rejected, 
She her Jesus, unprotected, 
Saw with thorns, with scourges rent. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



131 



The seventh station of the "Way of the Cross," on 
Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME. 

Christian Meditations. 



Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross; 
a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of 
His head and members. 



132 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER EIGHT. 




tation eight is on the right of pathway, front- 
ing east. Its distance from station seven is one 
hundred and thirty-eight feet, and its elevation 
above it is exactly eight feet. The hillside has been 
graded down five feet to bring the base on a level 
with the pathway. The trees seen in the rear are 
poplars. Here the church is again lost sight of, but 
looking to the east the parsonage is now plainly seen 
seventy -five feet below you in the valley. Before you 
reach station nine the pathwa} r leading up from the 
parsonage is seen upon the left. This was the orig- 
inal path to the top of the hill, though now, owing 
to the steepness of the route, it is only used by those 
who have business at the parsonage. The direction 
to station nine is south thirty degrees east. 

The picture in this station contains five figures, 
three of whom are women. Jesus is represented 
giving advice and comfort to the women of Jerusalem 
while the soldiers are seen standing b\ r and looking 
savagely on. 

8. Vidit suum dulcem Natum 
Moriendo desolatum, 
Dum emisit spiritum. 

8. Saw her son from judgment taken, 
Her belov'd in death forsaken, 
Till His Spirit forth He sent. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



133 



The eighth station, of the " Way of the Cross," on 
Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




safes?: , J Sfe -: fesfep. 



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JESUS COMFORTS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM. 

Christian Meditations. 



Consider how those women wept with compas- 
sion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, stream- 
ing with blood, as He walked along. "My children," 
said He, "weep not for Me, but for your children." 



134 HOLY HILL. 

STATION NUMBER NINE. 



I he ninth station stands on the left of the path 
** fronting west, in an excavation five feet deep. 
It is distant from station eight one hundred and 
forty feet and at an elevation above it of ten feet and 
four inches. This is a very romatic spot. Just 
across to the northwest is where the ' 'Shrine by 
the wayside," and the old station ten formerly 
stood as will be seen on page seventy-three. Many 
visitors to the hill drive with their carriages to 
this point and hitch their teams while they make 
the balance of the journey on foot. A few feet north 
the old pathway leads to the east, a shorter cut to 
the church. From hereto station ten the course is 
directly south and the steep part of the journey- 
begins. This station is backed by a fine cluster of 
red oaks. 

In the picture are seen four persons. Jesus falls 
for the third time, while Simon is discovered in the 
act of helping Him to lift the heavy cross. Two 
soldiers are seen behind, one with an uplifted scourge 
and the other with a drawn sword. 



9. Eja Mater, fons amoris, 
Me sentire vim doloris 
Fac, ut tecum lugeam. 

9. Fount of love and holy sorrow, 
Mother, may my spirit borrow 
Somewhat of thy woe profound. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



135 



The ninth station, of the "Way of the Cross," on 
Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME. 



Christian Meditations. 



Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weak- 
ness was extreme, and the cruelty of His execution- 
ers excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He 
could scarcely move. 



136 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER TEN. 




tation ten is on the left side of the path and 
stands in an excavation of eight feet, the top of 
the ledge being nearly on a level with the station's 
roof. It is one hundred and seventeen feet from 
station nine, and has an elevation above it of twenty- 
two feet and ten inches. Across the pathway to the 
west the bank descends, from the very edge, and 
abruptly down to a depth of over one hundred feet. 
Just opposite this station is a fine cluster of white 
birch trees on which the initials of a number of names 
are carved. The larger trees seen in the cut are a 
black oak at the left and a white oak on- the right. 
From here to station eleven the direction, at first, is 
to the south and until near it when it circles grace- 
fully around to the southeast. 

In the picture are represented four persons. Two 
soldiers are seen in the act of stripping Jesus of His 
clothing and drenching Him with water as if to re- 
vive Him for the cruel ordeal He is about to undergo. 



10. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum 
In amando Christum Deum, 
Ut sibi complaceam. 

10. Unto Christ, with pure emotion, 
Raise my contrite heart's devotion, 
Love to read in everv wound. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



137 



The tenth station of the "Way of the Cross, 
Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 



on 




JESUS STRIPPED AND DRENCHED. 

Christian Meditations. 

Consider the violence with which the executioners 
stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to His 
torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly 
i:hat the skin came with them. Compassionate your 
Saviour thus cruellv treated. 



138 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER ELEVEN. 



I he location of station eleven is on the right of 
* the pathwa\ T , and distant from station ten 
one hundred and eighty-three feet. It stands in a 
slight excavation facing south and at an elevation 
above station ten of thirty feet and three inches. This 
is the highest elevation between any two stations, 
and it is the longest distance between any two, 
excepting the first and second. This station is backed 
with a very fine grove of second growth of oaks, 
poplar and wild cherry. It stands in a commanding 
possition and from here the first glimpse of the outly- 
ing country is seen far below looking to the south- 
west. From this station the patlrway continues its 
circle to a point nearly north-east to station number 
twelve. 

There are six persons represented in the picture; 
but no women. The scene shows a number of sol- 
diers in the act of nailing Jesus to the cross. Jesus is 
reclining upon His cross stripped of His clothing and 
bleeding from many wounds. 



11. Sancta Mater, istud agas, 
Crucifixi fige plagas 
Cordi meo valide. 

11. Those five wounds on Jesus smitten, 

Mother ! in my heart be written, 

Deep as in thine own they be. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



139 



The eleventh station of the "Way of the Cross, "" 
on Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS. 

Christian Meditations. 
Consider how Jesus, after being thrown on the 
Cross, extended His hands, and offered to His Eter- 
nal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. 
These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then,, 
securing the Cross, allowed Him to die with anguish 
on this infamous gibbet. 



140 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER TWELVE. 



pproaching station twelve, which is the last 
station on the left of pathway, the road 
circles again to the south. Its distance from station 
eleven is on hundred and forty -four feet and its eleva- 
tion above it is eighteen feet and two inches. It 
stands on level ground, surrounded by a dense 
growth of young timber. Directly at the rear are 
some fine oaks and poplar, while to the east may be 
seen some fine specimens of white birch. The loca- 
tion, is surrounded by deep solitude and gloom, and 
one of the most lonely on the whole pilgrimage. Just 
west of this station the short cut bye-road enters the 
pathway. The direction to station thirteen, after 
completing the bend in the pathway, is south twent\- 
degrees east. 

The picture represents the death of Jesus upon 
the cross. There are five persons seen, three of whom 
are women, weeping beneath and kneeling at the 
foot of the cross. 



12. Tui Nati vulnerati, 

Tarn dignati pro me pati, 
Poenas mecum dh r ide. 

12. Thou, my Saviour's cross who bearest, 
Thou, thy Son's rebuke who sharest, 
Let me share them both with thee ! 



STATIO AS OF THE CROSS. 



141 



The twelfth station of the "Way of the Cross,' 
on Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS. 

Christian Meditations. 



Consider how Jesus, after three hours' agony on 
the Cross, consumed with anguish, abandoned Him- 
self to the weight of His body, bowed His head, and 
died. 



142 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER THIRTEEN. 



\ x / E approach station thirteen where the path- 
* * way makes an abrupt turn in a due easterly 
direction. The station stands on level ground and 
is on the right of the pathway. It is situated one 
hundred and fifty feet from station twelve, and its 
elevation above it is twenty-nine feet and two inches. 
This station gained, and the church stands out 
before you in plain sight, looking to the northeast. 
Across the way the forest is quite thick with small 
trees, while to the rear and southwest the larger 
timber has been cut away leaving an open space 
through which may be seen the beautiful valley far 
below you. The direction to the last station is east 
and not far distant. 

In the picture the lifeless body of Jesus is being 
taken down from the cross. Five persons are rep- 
resented three of whom are women. The counte- 
nance of each denotes extreme sorrow and sadness. 



13. Fac me tecum pie flere, 
Crucifixo condolere, 
Donee ego vixero. 

13. In the Passion of my Maker, 
Be my sinful soul partaker, 
Weep till death, and weep with thee. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



143 



The thirteenth station, of the "Way of the Cross," 
on Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS. 

Christian Meditations. 

Consider how our Lord, having expired, two of 
His Disciples, Joseph and Nicodenrus, took Him down 
from the Cross, and placed Him in the arms of His 
afflicted Mother, who received Him with unutterable 
tenderness, and pressed Him to her bosom. 



144 HOLY HILL. 



STATION NUMBER FOURTEEN. 



\ x /e now come to the fourteenth and last u Sta_ 
* * tion of the Cross." It stands upon the right 
side of the pathway and is distant from station 
thirteen only seventy-five feet, being the shortest 
distance between any two stations. It faces to the 
north and stands ten feet and two inches above 
station thirteen. Some beautiful scrub oaks are seen 
in the rear where the ground is free from underbrush 
making a very inviting place to rest after the long 
and tiresome pilgrimage. The "Bell tower and 
Cross," shown on page seventy-nine, is fifty feet east 
of you, and the church ninety feet to the northeast, 
and up a rise of sixteen feet and six inches to the 
stone water table. At station fourteen one is 
entranced with the beautiful scene that spreads out 
below and around him. 

The picture represents the end of the most lamen- 
table of all human tragedies, in which six persons are 
seen placing Jesus in the sepulcher after the Cruci- 
fixion, and three of whom are women. 



14. Juxta Crucem tecum stare, 
Et me tibi sociare 
In planctu desidero. 

14. Mine with Thee be that sad station, 
There to watch the great Salvation 
Wrought upon th' atoning tree. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 



145 



The fourteenth station of the " Way of the Cross," 
on Holy Hill, engraved from a photograph. 




JESUS IS PLACED IN THE SEPULCHRE. 



Christian Meditations. 



Consider how the Disciples carried the body of 
Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, 
who arranged it in the sepulchre with her own hands. 
They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew. 



146 HOLY HILL. 

15. Virgo virginum praeclara, 
Mihi jam non sis amara, 
Fac me tecum plangere. 

15. Virgin, thou of virgins fairest, 
May the bitter woe thou bearest 

Make on me impression deep. 

16. Fac ut portem Christi mortem, 
Passionis fac consortem 

Et plagas recolere. 

16. Thus Christ's dying may I carry , 
With Him in His Passion tarry, 
And His Wounds in memory keep. 



17. Fac me plagis vulnerari, 
Fac me Cruce inebriari, 
Et cruore Filii. 

17. May His Wounds transfix me wholly, 
May His Cross and Life Blood holy 
Ebriate my heart and mind: 



18. Flammis ne urar succensus, 
Per te, Virgo, sim defensus 
In die judicii. 

18. Thus inflamed with pure affection, 
In the Virgin's Son protection 
May I at the judgment find. 



STATIONS OF THE CROSS. 147 

19. Christe, cum sit hinc exire 
Da per Matrem me venire 
Ad palm am victoriae. 

18. When in death my limbs are failing, 
Let Thy Mother's prayer prevailing 
Lift me, Jesus ! to thy throne; 



20. Quando corpus morietur, 
Fac ut animge donetur 
Paradisi gloria. 

Amen. 

20. To my parting soul be given 

Entrance through the gate of Heaven, 
There confess me for Thine own. 

Amen. 




BUILDING THE NEW STATIONS. 



I — *rom the fact that the old Stations of the Cross 
* were made from pine, a timber not calculated to 
long withstand the severe changes of weather in an 
exposed condition; and as some were getting quite 
dilapidated and all showing signs of decay, Father 
Zimmer suggested the propriety' of erecting new ones 
and of a more durable nature. His proposition was 
favorably received by the Rev. Arch-bishop Heiss, 
and accordingly, in the summer of 1889, the new 
Stations of the Cross were begun and completed the 
the same season. 

The contract for building the new stations from 
brick was let to William Witt of Hartford, for five- 
hundred and fifty dollars; he to do the work and 
furnish all materials, which included the zinc crosses 
and turrets, also the doors and locks, and painting 
of the wood-work, such as doors and casings. The 



CHURCH HISTORY. 149 

bricks were made at Granville, near Milwaukee, and 
were furnished by George N. Hess of Hartford for ten 
dollars a thousand. Unfortunately they did not 
prove to be a very good quality. Many of them con- 
tained lime pebbles, -which were reduced to lime by 
the burning of the bricks. These slacked by the action 
of the moisture infused into them by the frosts of the 
first winter and quite a number burst, defacing the 
exterior walls. The defects may be seen in the illus- 
trations of stations seven, eight and twelve. 

The stations are two feet and four inches wide, 
four feet and two inches long and seven feet and six 
inches high to the eaves. They were completed in 
September, 1889. The receptacles or frames for 
holding the scriptural representations were made by 
Peter Westenberger of Hartford for one hundred and 
forty dollars. They are made from durable wood, 
as are also the doors which enclose them in the 
winter season. 

The pictures or representations, which were ob- 
tained through Hoffman Bros, of Milwaukee, were 
made in New York city. They are zinc casts, in bass- 
relief, and are very beautiful illustrations, each figure 
being wonderfully life-like. The fourteen cost three 
hundred and fifty-six dollars and fifty-five cents in- 
cluding freight from Milwaukee; making a total cost 
of the new Stations of the Cross, one thousand and 
forty-six dollars and fifty-five cents. They form one 
of the most attractive features of Holy Hill. During 
the season of divine worship they are always left 
open for the benefit of all who may visit the place, 
but they are all closed and securely locked just as 
soon as the season of solemn service closes. Though 



150 HOLY HILL. 

the stations are all left open during the season of 
divine services, the illustrations are well protected by 
heavy wire screens, and are comparatively secure 
from the intrusion of the too inquisitive, or molesta- 
tion by any. 

It was quite late in the fall when the stations 
were completed , consequently they were not dedicated 
until the following spring. On the twenty -fourth of 
May, 1890, being the Titular Feast of St. Mary's 
church on Holy Hill, the new Stations of the Cross 
were blessed with solemn ceremonies by the Rt. Rev. 
Mgr. Augustine Zeininger of Milwaukee. The day 
and the interesting ceremonies, together caused the 
largest assemblage of people that ever met on Holy 
Hill previous to that time. It has been estimated 
that fully four thousand people were present at the 
hill on that day. Since that time there have been 
even larger congregations there. 





PARSONAGE IN THE GLEN. 



THE ANNUAL FEAST DAYS. 




ot until the latter part of the month of May 
does the annual season of divine services begin 
on Holy Hill; though, at times, pilgrimages are made 
to the place somewhat earlier. As a rule, however 
the greater masses, who are accustomed to worship 
at the hill annually, wait until the time stated 
arrives. It is at this season that the hill puts on its 
richest dress of emerald hue; when wild birds, that 
flit among the overhanging boughs are warbling out 
their sweetest songs as if to cheer their constant 
nesting mates; when the wild flowers are blossoming 
everywhere, and thick beside the pathway, filling the 
air with a sweet fragrance, as if wafted from some 
ambrosial censer swung by unseen hands. From 
amid all these depths of the dark forest's solitude, a 
sense of solemn, sacred stillness reigns. Then all 
nature appears, as if adjusting its holy-day attire, 



154 HOLY HILL. 

preparatory to welcome the countless, penitent 
throng that soon will come to venerate within this 
grand and worshipful retreat, the ever Blessed Virgin 
and adore the Son of God. 

Titular Feast: The season of solemn services 
begins with the Titular Feast of the church on Holy 
Hill — Mary's Help of Christians — which is always 
celebrated the twenty-fourth day of May, on account 
of the many marvelous victories gained by christians 
at all times over their enemies, contrary to all natur- 
al expectations; ascribed to the veneration and the 
recourse the faithful had to the Blessed Virgin, and 
particularly when Pope Pius the VII y through his 
own devotion, as well as through the devotion of all 
the faithful to the Blessed Virgin was restored to the 
see at Rome after an exile of five years in France. 
The same Pontiff declared that a feast in honor of 
the Blessed Virgin should be annually celebrated on 
the twenty-fourth day of May, to be known *as 
"Mary's Help" of Christians; this in commemoration 
of the aid received through the intercession of God. 

The Visitation: The feast of the Visitation is 
annually celebrated on the second day of July. It is 
well known to all christians that according to Holy 
Writ, the Blessed Virgin went into the hilly country 
to visit her cousin Elizabeth. It was on this occa- 
sion that Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Ghost, cried 
out, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is 
the fruit of thy womb— Whence is it, that the moth- 
er of my Lord should come to me ? " It was on this 
occasion that Mary said: "My soul doth magnify 
the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my 
Savior — Henceforth all generations shall call me 



CHURCH HISTORY. 155 

blessed." Going through the hilly country to Holy 
Hill the pilgrims are reminded of the pilgrimage 
made by Mary on that occasion. 

Feast of the Assumption: The fifteenth day of 
August, which is annually celebrated on Holy Hill, 
is a day of holy obligation, and is commemorative 
of the bodily assumption of Mary into Heaven — It 
is expressive of the joy which the faithful perceive at 
the consummation of her earthly career, and the 
crowning reward which God bestowed upon Mary — 
Elevating her above the angelic choir. 

The Nativity: On the eighth day of September 
the church commemorates on Holy Hill, the happy 
and joyful day on which the ever Blessed Virgin first 
saw the light of day; accordingly, the church sings 
on this day: "Thy nativity, Virgin, Mother of God, 
hath brought joy to the whole world; for from Thee 
hath come forth the Sun of Justice, Christ the Lord." 
The opportunity presented by this celebration on 
Holy Hill, as a rule gathers an immense congregation 
from near and far. 

Hoey Rosary: The first Tuesday in the month 
of October is celebrated on Holy Hill, on account of 
the " rosary devotion;" a devotion which has been 
practiced by the regular, as well as the secular 
clergy, and likewise by the Catholic laity ever since 
the time of St. Dominic. Leo XIII, the present reign- 
ing Pontiff, has time and again exhorted the Catho- 
lics to it. The feast of Holy Rosary always comes 
on the first Sunday in October, but the priests being 
engaged on that day, and on duty at home, the first 
Tuesday has been chosen instead. 

Special Days: There are also some special days 



156 HOLY HILL. 

for divine worship on Holy Hill. As a rule, some day 
in the month of June is chosen; and most generally 
it is the "Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus," which 
commonly falls on the first Friday after the Octave 
of Corpus Christi. 

In addition to these, there are days chosen by 
the neighboring congregations for private pilgrim- 
ages, which are known and participated in, only by 
the members af their respective congregations. Such 
da}'s may var} r with every season, though they will 
never occur on any of the days already mentioned. 

The railroad excursions during the summer sea- 
sons are becoming quite popular and occur more 
frequenth^ than in former years. People living in 
over-crowded cities are glad to avail themselves of 
these opportunities, and cheap rates of fare offered, 
to come where they can enjoy a day of rest and rec- 
reation, surrounded by the grand and natural scenery 
such as the forests among the hills afford. Besides 
the railroad excursions, on almost am- pleasant day 
in summer, there may be seen at the hill large parties 
of pleasure seekers who come b}' carriage from all 
the larger cities for many miles around. 



INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH. 



Z_\ s a brief and accurate description of the church's 
* * — — ^ exterior has already been given, a glance 
at the interior of this beautiful edifice may not here 
be uninteresting to the general reader. During his 
custody of the hill property, Father Zimmer has 
labored unceasingly from year to year to equip and 
adorn the church's interior with improvements use- 
ful and at the same time durable and ornamental. 
In his expenditures, for this purpose, he has shown 
good taste, nor has he been lavish further than the 
real needs and the means at hand justified. 

When he took charge of the church property in 
1883 the interior of the church was very scantily 
furnished, but to-day, in its church equipments, fur- 
niture, paintings, statuary and ornamentations, it 
compares favorably with the best churches in the 
state. 



158 HOLY HILL. 

Whoever visits Holy Hily, at anytime other than 
on the regular feast days, and would like to take a 
look at the interior of the church, he will save 
much time and trouble by securing the key before 
starting on his journey up the hill. At all times 
when there are no services at the hill the church is 
kept securely locked. The key is kept by Daniel 
Goetz, who lives in a little cottage about forty rods 
east from the gate to the Hill's enclosure. No mat- 
ter if you are a stranger, pilgrim or tourist, the key 
will be freely given you, provided, it is demanded in 
a civil and gentlemanly way. Neither Mr. Goetz, 
his good wife or any member of his family, from 
whom you receive the key, will exact anything from 
you, further than a polite request, that on coming 
away you will close and lock the door and return 
the key to them. Perhaps, a small fee, for their 
trouble, would not be refused, should you feel so 
liberally inclined. But nothing of that kind is ever 
demanded by either of them from anyone. 

Once in possesion of the key you are ready for 
the pilgrimage, which will be found to be a very 
pleasant one; though at the same time, before you 
reach the summit of the hill, you will become con- 
vinced that it is also a very tiresome one. At first 
the rise is slight and gradual, and one sees so many 
attractions along the pathway that the ascent is 
scarcely noticed until station number nine is reached. 
From here to the hill-top the way is so very steep 
that it will be necessary to halt many times by the 
wayside for rest. These rests are generally made 
before each station, as all love to pass a short time 
in viewing the beautiful scriptural representations, 



CHURCH HISTORY. 159 

sorrowful and sad though they appear. However, 
by slow degrees, at length you reach your journey's 
end, and, as emerging from out the gloom of the 
darkly shaded pathway you catch the first glimpse 
of the bright light of day and the beautiful world 
stretching out so far away; then you will feel well 
repaid for the time and the toil you have endured. 

If this is your first visit to the Hill you will not 
proceed to enter the church immediately on your 
arrival. For just before you reach its portals, sud- 
denly you will become entranced by a most magnifi- 
cent view, spreading out in every direction before 
your wondering vision. You will love to dwell for a 
time on the various interesting objects seen far away 
in the dim distance. And your delight will be 
increased the more if, happily, you should discern 
some familiar spot or object, though many miles 
remote from your place observation. 

Having rested from the tedious journey, and 
being refreshed by the delightful breeze always 
present on Holy Hill, you are now prepared to take 
a look at the beautiful interior of the church. This, 
it is expected, you will do in a manner that is becom- 
ing to the sanctity of the place, and not in a careless 
way, as if to gratify an idle curiosity. The place 
has been blessed and made holy, and they who have 
labored to build and furnish it are entitled to your 
respectful behavior, while they grant you the privi- 
leges you are now about to exercise, and which you 
will no doubt enjoy. 

As you enter the doorway, if for the first time, 
and gaze upon the beauty and harmony of the sur- 
roundings, your delight will know no limit, nor can 



160 HOLY HILL. 

language express it. The light that penetrates the 
high windows from the many colored glass, gives a 
rich and mellow luster to each particular object. 
The beautiful frescoing of the entire interior, will 
challenge your admiration from the first. Then the 
tall symmetrical pillars reaching from the floor to 
the vaulted roof and supporting the interlacing 
arches will next claim your attention. 

Before you advance to examine the beautiful 
centre and side altars, and other objects of interest, 
upon either side and at the rear, you will notice at 
your left, a small shelf on which is placed a register. 
This is for the use or convenience of visitors , and in 
which many record the date, their name and resi- 
dence. If you consult its pages, you will, no doubt, 
find many names, of persons, with whom you are 
acquainted. The book contains the names of many 
who live in distant lands. You will find represented 
there nearly every state in the Union. You are at 
liberty to record your own address, but make no 
further comments than simply the date, your name 
and place of residence. 

A little further, to the right, you will notice a 
strong iron box securely fastened to the wall. It is 
placed there for the convenience of those liberally in- 
clined. If you feel disposed to drop a small offering 
into the opening, you will have done a good act, one 
which will be appreciated, and appropriated for good 
uses. You are not asked to give, but the oppor- 
tunity is there should you feel so disposed. 

Still farther to the right is the stairway leading 
to the gallery for the choir. This is a spacious plat- 
form extending across the entire south front. It is 



CHURCH HISTORY. 161 

provided with an organ, and is seated with a number 
of ordinary low wooden benches. The gallery will 
comfortably accommodate about one hundred per- 
sons. On nearly all feast days there is present in the 
gallery a choir of fine singers which is composed of 
musicians from some of the neighboring congrega- 
tions, most generally from St. Kilian's church of 
Hartford. From its high and commanding position 
a most magnificent view of nearly the whole interior 
of the church may be had from this point. 

As you pass down the stairway from the gallery 
at the lower landing to the right hand, you will 
notice standing in the corner a number of crutches. 
These were left by those who had been relieved from 
some disease or bodily infirmity through the efficacy 
of faith and prayer, and as indisputable evidence of 
the miraculous cures which devotees affirmed had 
been vouchsafed them through the agency of 
Divinity. Some of them w^ere deposited in the little 
old log chapel many years ago. 

As you view the interior of the church there is 
one thing that may strike you as being very odd and 
strangely out of place, and especially will this ap- 
pear so should you view it without any previous 
explanation. It is this, that amid all its beautiful 
surroundings, the church is seated only with ordi- 
nary, low, rude benches. These are arranged in three 
rows leaving only two narrow aisles of floor space 
extending from the front to near the altar. In all 
probability it will never be seated in any other way 
for it has been demonstrated on several occasions, 
that the church as it now is, will comfortably accom- 
modate fully a quarter more people than if seated 



162 HOLY HILL. 

with any of the modern style of pews. Besides, the 
floor of the church being so completely filled with 
these rude forms presents a peculiarly rustic appear- 
ance, and so strangely in contrast with its rich sur- 
roundings that the effect is rather pleasing than 
otherwise. 

The beautiful frescoing of the walls and arched 
roof was commenced in November of 1891, but 
owing to the severe cold weather was not completed 
until the following spring. It was done hj the firm 
of Liebig and Gaerdner of Milwaukee at a total cost 
of one thousand dollars. It is elegant in design 
and artistically executed in minutest detail. To 
Father Zimmer is due the credit of this beautiful 
improvement and decorative finish of the interior of 
the church on Holy Hill. 

To the right, or east side of the church, and a 
short distance back from one of the side altars, 
stands the new confessional. It was built by Peter 
Westenberger of Hartford at a cost of sixty-seven 
dollars. It is commodious in size and conveniently 
arranged, and though plain in design is very hand- 
somely finished. It w r as placed in its present position 
sometime during the summer of 1891. 

To the left of the east side altar you will notice 
hanging upon the wall some glass covered show 
cases, in which are deposited several pairs of spec- 
tacles. These have all been left there by pilgrims who 
have visited the hill in times past with impaired eye- 
sight, but who, as these mementoes testify, have left 
the place with their vision completely restored. There 
are also other tokens of remarkable cures which 
have been wrought through faith and prayer upon 



CHURCH HISTORY. 163 

Holy Hill. These silent witnesses which add their 
testimony, as is believed, to the direct agency of 
an omnipotent power, are regarded by all com- 
municants of the church with a due degree of rever- 
ence and veneration. In fact, they are looked upon 
by all who stand in their presence with manifesta- 
tions of mingled awe and adoration, excepting, it be, 
by those who are willfully perverse or viciously 
inclined. The presence of such scoffers here is out of 
place, and the space they occupy would be more 
honored by their absence. 

There are many other rare and beautiful objects 
distributed around this retired and sacred domain, 
things which will invite your close attention and 
greatly interest you. But there is nothing which 
you have yet seen that will claim your admiration 
more than the three magnificent altars located at 
the rear of the church's interior. These you are at 
liberty to inspect, though it should be done in a 
reserved manner, from a respectful distance and in 
conformity to church etiquette. 



THE NEW ALTARS. 




ext in order to the "Stations of the Cross," the 
three new and beautiful altars rank as first 
in importance among the many attractive features 
which have been added to Holy Hill by Father 
Zimmer, since he has had charge of the hill property. 
The new altars were manufactured by Mr. Brielmyer 
of Milwaukee, in the summer of 1887, at a total 
cost of eleven hundred dollars. Soon after they 
were completed they were transported to the hill 
and placed in position, where, on the fifteenth day of 
August, 1887, that being the "Feast of the Assump- 
tion," they were solemnly blessed in the presence of 
an immense congregation. 

The altars are Gothic in design and construction, 
and are in beauty and finish specimens of the highest 
skill of workmanship. The two side altars are 
about one half less in size than the main or center 



CHURCH HISTORY. 167 

altar which is over twenty feet in height. Each of 
the side altars is an exact duplicate of the other 
excepting in its furnishings and ornamentations. 
The right, or the one at the east side of the church, 
is christened St. Ann, and contains a statue of the 
saint after whom it is named. The left, or west altar, 
is christened St. Joseph, and also standing in its 
center is a statue of that saint. 

As the side altars will charm you as being beauti- 
ful aiad pleasing to look upon, so will the main or 
center altar delight you by its grand and imposing 
appearance. It is situated well back from the paling 
to the sanctum, and its retired location makes its 
appearance all the more majestic. It is dedicated to 
the Blessed Virgin, Mary Help of Christians. Seen 
from a short distance this grand altar is beautiful 
be} r ond the power of pen to portray. Its lofty spires 
and minarets, delicate and graceful, loom high up 
within the dark shadows of the dome. Its gilded 
cross which surmounts the apex rises high above the 
architraves until lost among the entablatures of 
the graceful and bewildering arches. 

The center of this altar is ornamented with a 
large and beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin and 
the child Jesus. The statue has quite a history 
within itself. It was made at Munich, Germany, 
and was imported to this country in 1876, the 
centennial year, and was taken to Philadelphia, 
where it remained on exhibition during the "World's 
Fair." Its marvelous beauty attracted the attention 
of many of the visitors and towards the close of the 
exhibition it was sold to a gentleman from Wiscon- 
sin who presented it to Holy Hill. It was first sent 



168 HOLY HILL. 

to St. Hubert's clrurch in Richfield where it remained 
until the summer of 1878. On the first day of July 
in that year the statue was carried by hand by 
eighteen young ladies to its destination on Holy Hill. 
The distance is nearly seven miles and w^as traveled 
by the young ladies on foot. They were followed by 
an immense procession and a number of priests from 
St. Boniface, St. Hubert, St. Augustine and other 
congregations. The solemn concourse was attended 
and guided by a ca\ r alcade of one hundred mounted 
young men from the same congregations. The 
long journey was enlivened and made pleasant by 
prayers and songs which were kept up from the 
start to the end of the long journey. Arriving at 
the hill, the occasion was celebrated w T ith high mass 
and a sermon. The original cost of the statue was 
one hundred and fifty dollars, and it was imported 
free of duty. It is said that it could not be repro- 
duced for anything like the price which was paid for 
it when purchased. 

Both the high altar and the sacristy contain 
many rare and useful articles of worship, all of which 
have been donated by liberal and pious people. 
Among these are a monstrance, costing eighty 
dollars, which is a transparent receptacle or vessel in 
which the consecrated wafer or host is held up to 
view before the congregation; a chiborium, a safe 
or coffer within the high altar, containing the host 
or sacred wafers; six elegant Gothic candle-sticks; a 
dalmatica, a short outer vestment worn by deacons 
at high mass; a surplice, a white garment worn by 
the clergy, and three set of albs, an ecclesiastical 
vestment of white linen which envelopes the person. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 169 

There are also many other articles of minor note, all 
of which have been donated to the church. 

You have now passed a pleasant and interesting 
hour in viewing the interior of St. Mary's church on 
Holy Hill. It has been an hour which you will long 
remember and a visit which you will never regret. 
If the day has been a pleasant one you will have 
noticed while there a great number of pilgrims who 
come and go at almost every hour. Very likely all 
of them will be strangers to you, and possibly some 
may have traveled here from their homes hundreds 
of miles away. You will also have noticed how 
meekly and quietly each one enters at the doorway, 
how reverently each deports himself while within the 
sacred edifice and how sanctimoniously they all 
depart. These are the real and earnest christians; 
and though you may not be a member of the 
church, still if the sentiments of Christianity are 
cherished by you in the slightest degree, you cannot 
fail to have respect and admiration for those who 
are so sincere and devout in their ways and manners 
of worship. 






OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. 




mong the many improvements of a lesser 
nature contributed to Holy Hill through 
the personal exertions of Father Zimmer during his 
custodianship of the property, the first, worthy of 
note, is the bell-tower illustrated on page 79. Some- 
time previous to 1885 a fund was raised by con- 
tribution to purchase a bell for the church on Holy 
Hill. The bell was purchased of the manufacturers, 
McShane & Co., of Baltimore, Maryland, and cost, 
with the mountings, two hundred and seventy-five 
dollars. On its arrival at the hill in the summer of 
1885, owing to its great weight, it was deemed 
unsafe to hang it in the belfry of the church, and 
after some deliberation it was decided to build a 
separate belfry or tower for that especial purpose. 
Accordingly the contract to build a suitable tower 
for the bell was let to Henry Dietzler of Hartford at 
an expense of two hundred and fourteen dollars. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 171 

The tower is substantially built, being fourteen 
feet square at the base and tapering slightly from 
the ground upwards. The lower room, about 
fourteen feet high, is shingled and has but one open- 
ing, a large door on the north side. Above this is 
the bell-room proper, each side being open lattice 
w T ork for the sound waves to pass freely out in all 
directions. Above the bell-room a six sided spire 
extends upwards, which is surmounted by a large 
wooden cross, the extreme height being thirty -five 
feet from the ground. The lower room is used as a 
store house and contains the old wood stations. 

The bell tower is located forty-five feet south and 
west from the church and about the same distance 
east from station fourteen. It is one of the interest- 
ing features of the hill and from its elevated position 
the great bell sends forth its tones reverberating 
through the valleys among the hills for miles around. 
The tower was completed and the bell hung in the 
fall of 1885, at a total cost of nearly five hundred 
dollars. The bell alone weighs twelve hundred 
pounds and cost eighteen cents a pound at the 
factor}'. 

About six feet to the west of the bell tower 
stands the ancient cross, erected by Romanus Goetz 
in 1858. It is the oldest land mark and sacred relic 
on Holy Hill. Though it has withstood the fierce 
storms of more than one-quarter of a centum, and 
its exterior shows plainly the ravages of time, still 
it stands proudly erect and continues to stretch out 
its friendly arms above the heads of the tens of 
thousands who yearly congregate within the 
presence of its fostering care and sacred influence. 



1 72 HOLY HILL. 

Across its arms, and deeply carved in Roman charac- 
ters, is the German inscription, still legible as when 
engraved by Mr. Goetz thirty -five years ago — "Ich 
bin das Leben, wer an mich glaubt wird selig" 
Owing to want of space this seems to be an abbrevia- 
tion of the English translation of the scriptural 
text which reads— John, 11th Chapt, 25th and 26th 
verses — "Jesus said unto her, (Martha) I am the 
resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, 
though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whoso- 
ever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." 

One of the best improvements for the accommo- 
dation of the traveling public, and especially for 
those who visit Holy Hill from long distances and 
by team, was instituted by Father Zimmer during 
the summer of 1890. Until then to reach the hill 
from the highway was over a private driveway a 
distance of eighty rods. This privilege was accorded 
to all for several years by the owner of the land, Mr. 
Mathias Wemer, as an accommodation merely. But 
as the road was simply private property, no road 
work was ever done upon it, and in consequence, it 
was most generally in a very poor condition for 
travel. Seeing the great need of better facilities for 
reaching the hill from the highway, Father Zimmer, 
sometime in September of 1890, purchased from Mr. 
Werner, for the church, a strip of land one and one- 
half rods wide and seventy-five rods long, leading 
from the highway to the gate at the northeast 
corner of the hill property. The price paid for this 
narrow roadway was one hundred dollars, quite a 
sum for three quarters of an acre of land in this 
mountainous countrv. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 173 

It was so late in the season when the land was 
purchased that there was no work done towards 
putting it in order for travel until the following 
spring. Then the contract was let for clearing it 
from stones and rubbish and grading it down to a 
proper level. The contract for doing the work was 
awarded to Daniel Goetz for forty dollars; and it 
was a very large amount of labor and a most excel- 
lent piece of work which he did for that small 
amount of money. But in addition to the money he 
received for his labor, he already has, and should 
continue to receive, the grateful thanks of all visitors 
to the hill for years to come. 

One of the most serious inconveniences that vis- 
itors to the hill have had to contend with in past 
years is the lack of suitable accommodations for 
man and beasts while there. Coming from any 
principal point one ma}^, the journey is long and the 
road to be traveled is indeed rough and very hilly. 
So much so, that when one reaches his destination, 
both himself and his team are weary, thirsty and 
hungry, and there is but little chance to satisfy 
either. Of course, on ordinary occasions, when the 
hill is not thronged with visitors, there are places 
where those who happen there then can have these 
wants supplied and at very reasonable prices. 

Now, as in former years, Mathias Werner keeps 
a hotel, if such it may be called, near and in full 
view of the hill. It is only a short distance east 
from the entrance to the bye-road leading to the 
church property. A cut of Mr. Werner's hotel is 
shown on page thirty -four, and as will be seen, it is 
quite a goodly sized cottage. The front is built from 



174 HOLY HILL. 

brick, while the rear part is constructed from hewn 
logs. It has a very decided rural appearance, inas- 
much as architecture was not considered in its 
construction; yet it is all the more home-like and 
inviting b\ r reason of its simplicity and rustic 
appearance. 

The hotel can accommodate as many as twenty 
guests at meals, but not more than half that number 
with comfortable lodging. The fare is simple, but 
at the same time abundant and substantial, and 
the charges are extremely moderate. Mr. Werner's 
accommodations are ample for all ordinary days, 
but on feast days, excursions and other like occa- 
sions his resources are inadequate to entertain even 
one in every hundred that craves his hospitality. 

Mr. Werner is a very genial host, and strives to 
entertain his guests, especially if they are strangers. 
There is no end to the fund of information of which 
he is possessed and which he is ever ready and 
delights to impart to others regarding the place. 
His long residence among the hills has given him a 
thorough knowledge of all the incidents and inter- 
esting features connected with Holy Hill. Strangers 
who visit the place will find his cottage a pleasant 
home, and Mr. Werner, as interesting and as useful 
as a guide book. 

Within the last few years, or since the parsonage 
has been untenanted, on nearh- all da3 r s of a general 
gathering, meals are served at the priest's house in 
the glen by Mrs. Daniel Goetz. A good dinner may 
be had there for twenty-five cents, provided one is 
fortunate in getting a place at the table. This, how- 
ever, 3'ou are by no means certain of, the applicants 



CHURCH HISTORY. 177 

for such privileges being always greatly in excess of 
the accommodations at hand. Sometimes Mrs. 
Goetz serves meals at her home to strangers, tour- 
ists or pilgrims when visiting the hill, though she 
can entertain only a small number at a time owing 
to her limited means of accommodation. 

The accompanying engraving illustrates very 
accurately the pleasant cottage home of Daniel 
Goetz. It is situated about one hundred rods north- 
east from the parsonage in the glen, and from this 
point, looking in that direction, is seen standing out 
plainly in view. The log house and other farm 
buildings adjoining it are situated in the depths of a 
very fertile valley. The place has a somewhat 
secluded, but a rather inviting look, and all its 
surroundings are suggestive of the real home com- 
forts of an unpretentious life. 

The photograph after which the cut was made 
was taken about the middle of July 1891. The 
young lady, Miss Katie Goetz, had just brought out 
the dinner to the faithful watch dog, whose kennel 
was underneath the granary, and the dog was about 
half way out when the plate in the camera was 
exposed to the light and all before it. The instru- 
ment stood near the pile of planks by the garden 
fence. The picture shows the large apple tree in the 
garden in its fullest summer foliage, but it does not 
show its fruit, with which it was well laden at the 
time. The picket fence completely surrounds the 
large fruit and flower garden just in front of the 
house. Mrs. Goetz is quite a florist and during any 
of the summer months the garden contains a great 
variety of beautiful and fragrant flowers. 



178 HOLY HILL. 

The home of Daniel Goetz is indeed a lovely spot, 
and its surroundings are picturesque in the highest 
degree. It was from this point and just southwest 
of his cottage that the view of Holy Hill was taken 
after which the large and beautiful engraving, as 
shown on page thirteen, was made. From here, not 
only the entire north and east sides of the hill are 
plainly seen, but also the church on the hill-top and 
the parsonage in the deep ravine among the hills. 
From here, looking directly west, Station one and 
the wicker gateway to the hill are plainly seen. As 
resting here, on any of the feast days, you can see 
the entire, vast and countless procession as it passes 
and repasses through the open gatewa\ r to and from 
divine worship in the church on the hill's summit. 
To him who loves quietude the home of Mr. Goetz 
will be found well adapted to his wants and com- 
forts while sojourning at the hill. 

As the two places already described are the only 
ones where entertainment may be had by those who 
visit at the hill, and as both of these are limited in 
their means, and often inadequate to supply the 
demand, it will follow, that excursions, picnics and 
family parties should go prepared; and particularly 
is this so, should they visit the place at any time 
during the pleasant summer days. On such occa- 
sions a well filled lunch basket will not come amiss, 
and will contribute greatly to the comfort and 
pleasure of the time. Also a sufficient quantity of feed 
for the team should constitute a part of the outfit, 
and none, who can conveniently provide such, should 
neglect this, at times, ve^ important sustenance. 
There is one thing more; all should take the precau- 



CHURCH HISTORY. 179 

tion to water their team at some convenient place 
before reaching the hill, as quite frequently the wells 
in the vicinity become exhausted by the constant 
drain which is made upon them in the early part of 
the day, and frequently by noon there is but little 
w r ater to be obtained, even for man, and much less, 
and very often none, for his tired horses. 

It is now, however, an assured fact, that before 
the end of the present season ample accommoda- 
tions will be provided for entertaining all who may 
visit Holy Hill, even on the days of general gather- 
ings, at least in the way of a substantial meal. On 
the authority of Father Zimmer, it is stated that 
plans are being perfected to erect a mammoth 
dining hall of suitable dimensions to feed the 
immense throng that congregates there on any of 
the noted days of worship. It is said that this 
needed accommodation for visitors was inaugurated 
at the instance of some Milwaukee gentlemen, 
philanthropic men, who evidently have noticed its 
great need, and who have liberally donated to the 
good work. 

As now contemplated , the new dining hall will 
be located in the pleasant valley just east from the 
parsonage and convenient to the only well on the 
grounds. When completed the new improvement 
will be under the supervision and management of 
Mrs. Daniel Goetz which is a sufficient guarantee 
that all who apply will be amply provided for. 

As this chapter will practically finish the descrip- 
tive part of Holy Hill, the writer cannot let 
the opportunity pass without paying some tributes 
of respect to the hardy band of old settlers who first 



180 HOLY HILL. 

invaded the forests among these hills. The home of 
Daniel Goetz illustrates very fairly the kind of tene- 
ments that were in use by all of the early settlers; 
but the picture in itself, does not convey much of 
an idea of the condition of things as they once exist- 
ed there. For though the fields now look fair and 
pleasing to the eye, being free from the heavy forests 
that once encumbered them, yet it took years of toil 
and hard labor, by that sturdy band of old pioneers, 
to remove these and subjugate the land to a condi- 
tion fit for agricultural purposes. 

As may be seen in the picture, the buildings are 
all of the simplest kind, made in the most primitive 
st}de of architecture. Nearly all were constructed 
from such materials as were conveniently at hand, 
and most generally cut or dug from land ajoining. 
In addition to the unskilled labor, it required but a 
small outlay of money for lumber, hardware and 
glass to construct these humble log abodes. They 
were not spacious nor elegant, but they supplied all 
the needs of a comfortable home for these hardy 
dwellers who settled among the hills. These log 
cabins must be quite durable for after having been 
used for nearly fifty years most of them are still 
occupied, and until quite recently no other kind of 
habitations was met with for miles around. 

The early settlers of this locality were most 
assuredly a class of men who were possessed of 
real manly courage, as, from the first, there was 
nothing especially inviting nor encouraging for them 
to build homes among these rugged hills. They also 
must have been men who were endowed with good 
physical strength and indurance to withstand 



CHURCH HISTORY. 181 

the many hardships necessary to remove the heavy 
forests and convert the rough land into such fruitful 
farms as may be found here on every hand to-day. 

There are quite a number of the original pioneers 
still living, and who are now in the enjoyment of 
their hard earned possessions; but, alas, very many 
of them have passed life's boundary line and have 
retired from the scenes of their earthly labor forever. 

"For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, 
Nor busy housewife ply her evening care; 

No children run to lisp their sire's return, 
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share. 

"Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield; 

Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke; 
How jocund did they drive their team afield ! 

How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke ! 

But they performed their mission well, and when 
departing left to posterity a good inheritance and 
their honored names — Names and deeds that the 
living of to-day and future generations should long 
cherish in grateful remembrance and forever perpet- 
uate in story, history and song. 

Many years ago it was the province of the writer 
to frequently visit these early settlers in their humble 
log cabin homes. At such times he had ample oppor- 
tunity to note well their contented and simple modes 
of life, and it is with feelings of gratitude and 
thankfulness that he now makes due acknowledge- 
ment for the many courtesies extended to him by 
these commonplace, yet hospitable, old settlers. No 
honor which the living can bestow is too great for 
the services which they rendered; and all the praise 



182 HOLY HILL. 

that posterity can offer would come far short of 
being adequate compensation for the years of hard- 
ships and privations which they underwent. 

On the twenty-second day of February, 1888, 
the writer, by request, composed and read a poem 
before the Old Settlers' Club of Washington County, 
at West Bend. Though the poem was intended to 
commemorate the old settlers in general, yet it 
contains many passages that very fittingly apply to 
the early settlers in and around Holy Hill. For this 
reason, and also, that the poem has remained unpub- 
lished, excepting in pamphlet form, the author deems 
that it may be interesting and not improper to 
introduce it here. 






THE OLD SETTLERS. 



The early settlers — who were they? 

Looking around us here to-day, 

We see, amid this gathering here, 

The form of many a pioneer. 

Easy to single them out here now — 

Privation and toil stamped on each brow; 

Bowed by hardship, age and decay, 

Bearing their locks of iron-grey, 

Only the relics of toil and care, 

Only a remnant of those that were, 

Only a handfull, aged and grey, 

Are left to meet with us here to-dav. 



184 HOLY HILL. 

Yet these are the men who first trod on this soil, 
And these are the matrons who shared in their toil; 
Yes, these the Old Settlers who earh T and first, 
Like an avalanche on -to a wilderness burst. 

Yes they are the ones who left kindred mid tears, 
Who quitted the scenes of their earlier years, 
With hearts full of hope for their future success; 
Who labored for years amid want and distress, 
In the depths of a desolate, dark wilderness, 

Whose solitude only was broken and stirred 
When the shriek and shout of the savage were heard. 
Such then was the prospect your vision first caught, 
Ere your stalwart arms such changes had wrought. 

When you entered the forest no highway was laid, 
Yet you wielded the axe 'till a pathway was made. 
Now struggling mid thickets, or fording the stream; 
The progress was slow, and the faithful ox team 

Was swayed by the gad with a "haw" and a "gee," 
As you followed the trail by the "blaze" on the tree; 
'Till at last, weary worn, the cumbersome load 
Reached the spot you had chose for the future abode. 

A moment you rested and the prospect surveyed; 
If a task was before you, you were not disma3 r ed. 
You had come there to stay; the forest must yield, 
And bow to the axe you stood read}* to wield; 

And the wondering savage through fear stood aloof, 
As you ate the first meal with the sky for a roof. 
Then soon from the depths of that forest arose 
The echoing sound of the strong sturdy blows. 



CHURCH HISTORY. 185 

'Twas the music of progress that plays in the van, 
And which heralds the coming of civilized man. 
'Twas the sound of an axe, with stroke upon stroke, 
As you sought with a will for the heart of the oak; 

You found what you sought, but no poet can tell 
The joy that was yours when the first giant fell, 
For its ominous sound smote the savage with fear, 
And he knew that his time of departure was near. 

Ere long in the midst of that forest appeared 
The log cabin home in the patch you had cleared; 
Rude in its structure, in compass 'twas small, 
But it served for a home and gave shelter to all. 

Of the straight forest trees were its walls out and in, 
Betwixt which the chinks were secured with a pin 
Or wedge made of wood, and to keep out the air, 
Each crack was mud plastered and pointed with care 

The floor of split puncheons, laid in a rough way, 
To a level was adzed on the first rainy day. 
One window for light, and one only — no more, 
Had its place by the side of the log cabin door, 

That turned on wood hinges with hoarseness and din; 
Its latch was a lock — when the string was pulled in. 
Thus the humble log cabin secure from the blast, 
With its shake shingled roof was completed at last — 

And the family moved in, and we're free to declare, 
That amid all the wealth of proud palaces rare, 
Was less happiness found, or less genuine bliss, 
Than vou "old settlers" knew in a cabin like this. 



186 HOLY HILL. 

Through the long winter evenings the pioneer sire, 
By the light of a "slut," or the bright blazing fire, 
Sat astride of his bench, while enjo3 T ing a smoke, 
And would fashion a helve, or an-ox bow or yoke, 

Just above him on hooks, there rested in quiet, 
The time honored musket, and powder horn nigh it; 
The same his great grand sire, once handled with will 
'Gainst the foes to his county on old Bunker hill. 

And in many a conflict, great service had done — 
Heirloom of his sires! how he prized that old gun! 
And he fashioned away, with thoughts on the wing, 
Of } 7 ears that were past, or the future might bring, 

While the young mother sang her sweet lullaby o'er 
Her babe which she rocked on the rough cabin floor, 
As she patched at the wamus, or darned up the sock. 
Until the short hand pointed ten by the clock. 

And your pioneer's life was free from all guile; 
You dwelt in contentment, you cared not for style; 
Was happy though clad in the backwoodman's dress 
Your wants were but few, and your resources less. 

To the stranger the cabin door never was barred, 
Though rations were scant, the last loaf was shared; 
And with you hospitably was not a mere name, 
For the latch string was out, no matter who came. 

Yet 'twere tedious to tell, far too lengthy to trace, 
Each step from a cabin to your proud dwelling place. 
Of your hardships and toil, your dangers and fears, 
Shall our hist'ry record of your earlier years — 



CHURCH HISTORY. 187 

What your labor has bought, what posterity gains , 
One glance at creation around us explains. — 
A country as fair and more fruitful by odds, 
Than any yet known on this footstool of God's. 

Yet the prospect so fair which around us expands, 
Is the price of hard labor produced by your hands, 
And the fruits of abundance enjoyed by us now, 
Were begotten by toil and the sweat of your brow. 

Changed are the scenes, from those you first knew; 
The forests are gone, and the land where they grew, 
Expands in broad fields, both fruitful and fair, 
For the hand of industry still guards them with care, 

And the ox teams of yore are but things of the past; 
Now you ride in a carriage and more stately its cast, 
And no longer you dwell in the log cabin rude, 
For a mansion now stands where a log cabin stood, 

And the voice of the savage, who dared to dispute. 
Your right to possession is silent and mute. 
The sound of the waters that flowed from the hill, 
Is hushed by the hum of the wheel in the mill. 

And below in the valley, across the ravine, 
The iron bridge spans where you forded the stream . 
So the infant who slept to its mother's sweet lay. 
In the zenith of manhood now greets here to-day. 

All is changed — and time with its cycling years, 
Is fast thinning the ranks of the "old pioneers," 
Though death still pursues while the latest survives, 
Yet God in his bounty hath lengthened your lives; 



188 HOLY HILL. 

He hath spared you to live, to partake and enjoy 
Of this feast as the fruits of your early employ — 
Allowed us to meet you, your children and theirs, 
To thank you, and honor your fast fleeting years— 

To bless, ere you've taken your final sojourn 

To the old settlers' home whence no travelers return. 

Yet still as the 3 r ears pass successive away, 

May we meet you again, as we meet 3-ou to-day. 

Yes meet you as now, and in friendship still clasp, 
Each "old settlers" hand in fraternities clasp, 
And when thou art gone, may posterity's tears, 
Long moisten the graves of the Old Pioneers. 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 



1 



he steadfast belief and sincere devotions, as 
manifested by the communicants of the Catholic 
church, in conformity to the tenets of their creed, 
are only equaled by their earnest zeal and faithful 
following of their religious teachings. Among no 
other religious denominations are these true 
christian qualities so plainly marked, and so 
characteristically exemplified, as we find them here; 
for certainly, by no other religious sect have doc- 
trines and forms of worship remained from the 
beginning so sacredly unaltered. 

One of the most wonderful attributes ascribed 
to Holy Hill, as claimed by many, and especially by 
the Catholics, is that some unseen and omnimpotent 
power pervades this sacred domain. A mysterious 
energy, with an efficacy so benign, that can, and does 



190 HOLY HILL. 

in a miraculous way cure various forms of human 
afflictions. By the faithful followers of Christ it is 
believed that this unseen power is made manifest in 
a transcendent way through a divine agency; and 
that it comes to the afflicted penitent who through 
confiding faith and fervent supplications, devoutly 
invokes divine aid; that it is derived through the 
mediation of the Saints, and here particularly, 
through the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, 
they believe God to be moved to grant their re- 
quests. It is a beautiful christian faith. 

The cases cited, and vouched for as having been 
cured, are numerous, and as to the nature of the dis- 
eases, they are multiform. Regarding the authen- 
ticity of many very remarkable cures reported, not 
only are there records in proof, but also there are 
living witnesses who will testify to the genuineness 
of the cures as cited. Many of those who bear 
witness to these wonderful and nrysterious cures are 
now living in the vicinity of Holy Hill. A number of 
them are well and personally known to the writer, 
and they are persons of the highest respectability; 
those whose truth and veracity- were never 
yet questioned by any. They are persons who, 
having personal knowledge of the facts, are so firm 
in their belief of these cures that their faith cannot 
be shaken by any arguments than can be produced 
against them to the contrar\ r . Besides, we have the 
testimony of those who have themselves been cured, 
many of whom are now living in the enjoyment of 
good health, in addition to which, and as accumu- 
lative evidence, there are now preserved in the church 
a number of crutches and other tokens of disease 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 191 

which have been deposited there by those who have 
sought and found relief from various diseases. 

Yet notwithstanding all this evidence so authen- 
tic, being so sacredly preserved and so conveniently 
at hand, there are those who not only discredit the 
statements made by others in regard to the verity of 
these cures, but who do not hesitate to scoff and 
ridicule others for enjoying their honest convictions: 
for enjoying a belief that is founded upon scriptural 
teachings and sound theological investigation; a 
belief which does not in the least molest or interfere 
with the rights or happiness of them or others. 

These scoffers are generally of that class who 
pretend to disbelieve in everything that has for its 
support laws governed by nature or divinity; yet 
who, by a close intimacy, would reveal to you, that 
they are converts to some dogma that is founded 
upon mere fallacy alone. Such individuals are 
common and are to be met with among all nations 
of the earth. They have existed through all ages 
from the beginning of time. Nor are they confined 
to the ignorant alone, but you may discover them 
among men of science, professors and statesmen, 
many of whom have been known to have been slaves 
to the fascinations of strange and unnatural beliefs. 
Fallacy, like prejudice, is impervions to logic, and no 
argument addressed to the reason has any effect 
upon its power or prevalence. 

The Scientific American in a recent number, 
speaking of this subject asks — "Why is thirteen an 
unlucky number? What possible connection has the 
assemblage of thirteen persons at a dinner with the 
death of any one of them during the ensuing year? 



192 HOLY HILL. 

If fourteen dine together, there is certainly a greater 
chance that one of them would pass away within 
the twelvemonth than if one less sat at the table, 
and yet this is not the common estimate. There is 
not a housekeeper in this city (New York) who 
would seat thirteen at her table without a feeling of 
regret, and the great majority would not entertain a 
company composed of that number for any consider- 
ation whatever." . 

"There are scores of absurd beliefs connected 
with the moon and its phases. The effect of its 
"changes" on the weather is a matter of almost 
universal belief, although nearly all of our renowned 
scientists have agreed that there is not the slightest 
observable dependence between them. There is 
probably not a person in the whole country who 
would not, if he had his choice, prefer to catch the 
first glimpse of the new moon over his right shoulder 
while large numbers are rendered quite miserable, 
if the}- happen to see the narrow crescent on its first 
appearance, over their left shoulder." 

"The prevalent belief that Friday is an unlucky 
day regulates in many respects the business of the 
world. Those who are ready to assert that they 
have no feeling whatever on the subject are very 
careful when starting in any new enterprise, or in 
choosing the date for an entertainment or a 
marriage, not to run counter to this popular fallacy. 
Some years ago an English ship owner, finding none 
of his ships would go to sea on Friday, owing to the 
feeling among the sailors, determined to cure their 
madness if he could. He therefore laid the keel of a 
vessel on Friday, made every contract for its con- 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 193 

struction on Friday, and launched the craft on the 
unlucky day. He christened the ship Friday and 
found an old sea captain by the name of Friday 
whom he made master for her first voyage. After 
great difficulty in securing a crew she sailed on a 
given Friday for her destination. She was never 
spoken after the pilot left her. It is strange how 
one such incident will deepen a prejudice already 
existing in the minds of many. The presumption is 
that when the ship encountered her first storm, the 
sailors, who are proverbially superstitious, became 
apprehensive and took to the boats, leaving the 
ill-fated craft to founder in mid ocean and perished 
themselves in like manner. 

The paper cites a number of other cases showing 
to what an extent the minds of even intelligent 
men may become prejudiced in favor of such abnor- 
mal beliefs, beliefs that cannot be sustained by any 
logic founded upon science, and incompatible with 
the laws of nature or even common sense. But never- 
theless such individuals are found among all nation- 
alities and in every station of life; those who will 
cling tenaciously to some delusive fantasy, while 
they ignore the truths of divinity and reject the 
teachings of the righteous. 

In the succeeding chapter is given the history of 
a number of well authenticated cures. The writer has 
selected only those which are the more prominent, 
and such as are susceptible of the best proof. As to a 
few of the cures related, the author has a personal 
knowledge of the facts. It must not be inferred, 
however, that the cases related are all the cures that 
have been consummated on Holy Hill. There have 



194 HOLY HILL. 

been matr^ other cases reported, but which are of 
minor consequence. It is also well known that a 
number of cures have been effected there, where the 
few who were knowing to the facts, have been 
enjoined to the strictest secrecy by those who were 
cured or benefitted. And this, for the reason, that 
the convalescents chose to avoid the annoyance of 
frequent and public interviews in relation thereto; 
and for the further reason, they did not want to 
suffer the ridicule with which the evil disposed and 
wickedly inclined might assail them. 

It is also true that not all who seek relief there 
meet with the desired reward for all the3 r ask. None 
but the truly meek, devout and purely penitent may 
hope for those blessings which none but the ever 
Blessed Virgin can bestow. 






CASES OF CURES CITED. 




ne of the first cures reported as having taken 
place at Holy Hill was brought to the personal 
knowledge of the writer while boarding at a hotel 
kept by Carl Klose at Schleisingerville in the fall of 
1858. At that time a peddler was stopping at the 
hotel who carried his right arm in a sling. He was 
selling religious pictures and a few other light goods 
which he carried in a box suspended from his 
shoulder by a wide strap. He would start out in 
the morning and sell his wares among the farmers 
and return in the evening. At times he would be 
be absent for two or three days. He gave his name 
as Anton Meister, said he was a mason by trade 
and had worked several years in Chicago; that 
about a year previous he was stricken with 
paralysis, the effects of which had left his right arm 
powerless. He could not work at his trade and had 



196 HOLY HILL. 

taken up peddling to earn a living. One evening he 
returned to the hotel quite late and appeared to be 
greatly delighted about something. Soon he began 
to explain to those present that he had, that day,, 
suddenly recovered the use of his right arm. When 
questioned as to the facts, he answered — "I was 
peddling to-day in the neighborhood of a big hill 
some eight miles south of here. I eat my dinner 
with an Irish family near the foot of the hill, and 
before leaving I spoke of the big hill so near by,. 
when the man informed me that about four months 
before they had raised and blessed a cross on the top. 
As I am a Catholic I traveled up the hill to spend a 
time in prayer. On coming to the cross I knelt 
down and prayed, and in that prayer, as I had often 
done before, I asked and begged to be relieved of my 
affliction. When I arose I took my purse from my 
pocket and opened it, as usual, with my left hand, 
and without being aware of what I did, took a coin 
with my right hand and dropped it in the box that 
was fastened to the cross. Then, for the first time 
I was aware of what I had done, and in my joy I 
exclaimed aloud — "My God, is this possible!" — Then 
to assure nryself that it was really so, I swung my 
right arm around and over my head. It was all 
right again, and I had not used it for over a year. I 
was so overjoyed that I spent the rest of the after- 
noon in prayer on the hill, and left there only two- 
hours ago. I did not stop to peddle anymore, and 
only called at a little grocer\ T near St. Augustine's to 
pay for my breakfast and last night's lodging." The 
sincerity with which he related his experience 
caused none, who heard him, to doubt it. The next 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 197 

morning he sold his peddler's outfit to the landlord 
for a small amount and left rejoicing on the first 
train for Chicago. 



The case of Louis Marmes is the second cure re- 
ported at the hill, and is one of the most authentic 
and wonderful in the whole catalogue. It is authen- 
tic because Mr. Marmes lived in the vicinity at the 
time and he is still living to-day, as also are many 
others who were knowing to the circumstances and 
who will testify to the truth of this statement. It 
is wonderful because from a helpless invalid he was 
restored to complete health in an incredibly short 
space of time. Mr. Marmes was keeping a small 
store at the time near St. Augustine's church, one 
and a half miles east of the hill. He was terribly 
afflicted with rheumatism and suffered intense pain. 
He tried every known remedy, consulted physicians, 
out all to no purpose, nothing contributed to his 
relief and he continued to grow steadily worse. His 
limbs became powerless and his form wasted to a 
mere skeleton. One day someone chanced to relate 
in his presence about the wonderful cure of Mr. 
Meister at the hill. This seemed to inspire him with 
a new hope and he then determined, as a last resort, 
to undertake the pilgrimage to the hill. Soon after, 
on a bright morning in June, supported by his two 
crutches and an attendant upon either side, he 
started for the hill on loot. It took them four hours 
to make the journey and reach the hill-top. Mr. 
Marmes, being a devout Catholic, prayed constantly 
while on his journey up and down the hill. It was 



198 HOLY HILL. 

night when they reached their home, but Marines 
remarked that he felt better than he had for months. 
He returned to the hill the next day but took only 
one attendant with him. The third day he returned 
alone, sustained only by the aid of his crutches. 
Late in the afternoon of that day some people at 
Mr. Werner's heard someone shouting and singing 
near the gate-way to the hill. Looking in that di- 
rection the}' saw Marmes coming on one crutch and 
waving the other in the air above his head. When 
he came near to them he suddenly halted, waved 
his crutch above him and shouted — "I am cured — 
My pain has left me and blessed be Mary for ever." 
The fourth day he left one crutch on the hill, and the 
other on the fifth day, using only a cane. On the 
seventh day, being completely restored, he left his 
cane. His crutches have been preserved in the church 
where the^^ may now be seen. Mr. Marmes rapidly 
gained in strength and is now a robust man. Some 
years later he came to Hartford and started a store, 
and at the same time he kept a store in Woodland 
and another at Kaukauna. A few years ago he 
closed out his business here and went to Antigo 
where he now resides. He was known far and near 
as "Cheap John," and it pleased him greatly to be 
thus addressed. 



A ver\ r remarkable cure is reported by Mr. 
Werner who keeps the hotel, and which, he says, he 
can vouch for as being in every particular true, for 
as he added, "I saw it with my own eyes." He says: 
— "In the summer of 1862 there came to mv hotel a 




STAIRWAY OF CHURCH ON HOLY HILL. 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 201 

mother with her five year old daughter. The child 
was helpless, and her mother said she had no use of 
her lower limbs and had never walked a step in her 
life. I assisted the lady to take the child up the hill 
to the old log chapel. When we went in she seated 
the child on a bench and then addressed herself to 
prayer. There were two other ladies on the opposite 
side near the altar engaged in devotion. All at once 
the child sprang off the bench, walked across the 
floor and picked up a handkerchief which one of the 
strange ladies had accidentally dropped. The 
mother, on seeing this, was so delighted that her 
joy knew no bounds. She picked the child up, kissed 
her many times and wept over her for joy. She then 
prayed for a time giving thanks to the blessed Virgin 
Mary. When she had finished her devotions we 
started on our return down the hill, the child walking 
all the way back to the hotel. They stayed with 
me a few days and then returned to their home. If 
I heard their names at the time I have forgotten 
them now, and also their residence which I now 
think was in Fond du Lac county; but all the other 
circumstances were true as I have related them." 



In the month of August 1881, there came to the 
hill a stranger who made his home with Mr. Werner 
for quite a time. He was a man about seventy 
years old who said that he was an Englishman and 
kept a hotel at La Salle, Illinois. He said that for 
many years he had been terribly afflicted with the 
headache, and from which he was suffering greatly 
at the time. He had tried all the remedies that had 



202 HOLY HILL. 

been recommended and had changed his residence 
several times but was unable to obtain the least 
relief. He could not endure the sun's rays and was 
obliged to keep in the shade during the heat of the 
day. In going to the hill he would take the cool of 
the morning and remain in the shade of the woods 
until late in the afternoon. On the sixth or seventh 
day, while praying at one of the stations, all at 
once he felt a strange sensation in his head and 
instantly the pain had left him. He remained at the 
hill a number of days afterwards, and to assure 
himself that he was permanently cured, would go up 
the hill in the hot sun with his head bare. He was 
quite bald and the sun burned his head so the whole 
top was one blister, but there was no return of his 
headache. Some years later he wrote to a friend, 
whose acquaintance he had made while there, saying 
that he had never had the least pain in his head 
since leaving the place. When he came to the hill he 
was a church member and a Protestant, but after 
his experience there he espoused the Catholic 
religion. 



The case of John Merkel, who was cured of a 
very malignant cancer, one of the worst type, is so 
well substantiated by living witnesses that no 
question was ever raised as to its reality; even in the 
minds of the most skeptical. Mr. Merkel is now 
living with his family just one mile east from Holy 
Hill. For several years previous to 1884 he was 
terribly afflicted with cancer of the face. He sub- 
mitted to skilful medical treatment by eminent 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 203 

physicians, and tried many remedies recommended 
by nonprofessionals. Though many remedies had 
power to afford some transient relief from pain, yet 
none could cure or check the ravages of the dire 
disease. Portions of his cheek, lip and nose were 
eaten away, and finally one eye became involved and 
the loss of sight was threatened. At this stage of 
the disease he was told by his physicians that he 
was incurable; and the only thing that could be 
done, to alleviate his sufferings, would be for him to 
submit to the knife. As he was an old man and 
with a constitution greatly impaired, he chose 
rather to die than to undergo further torture. 
Accordingly he made every preparation for death. 
He disposed of all his worldly effects by will, and 
commended his spiritual welfare through the media- 
tion of a priest to God. At this time he was living 
directly west from the hill, and by his door many 
pilgrims passed almost daily on their journey to and 
from the place of worship. Noticing this, and believ- 
ing that he had but a short time to live, one day he 
made a solemn vow that he would go once each day 
to the hill and there repeat a certain prayer. Soon 
after he had commenced to execute his promised task 
he became aware that his pain had entirely left him. 
Then an examination of the tumor proved that the 
decayed portions of the flesh were dropping off and 
the wound showed evidence of healing. From 
that time he gradually grew in health and strength, 
and eventually the ulcer completely healed. The 
writer was personally acquainted with him at the 
time the disease was in its worst stages, and has 
met him often since. The cure is perfect, only the 



204 HOLY HILL. 

scars remaining to add their testimony. Though 
now over eighty years of age Mr. Alerkel still 
enjoys good health. He cultivates forty acres of 
land and works some at his trade, that of a stone 
mason. 



A daughter of Herman Verhalen, residing at 
Franklin, Milwaukee county, was cured of insanity 
by the fervent prayers of her father. Her case had 
been pronounced as incurable by her attending 
physicians, and her father was himself nearly crazed 
over the unfortunate condition of his child. He 
had heard of the many wonderful cures that had 
been wrought on Holy Hill through the intercession 
of the saints. Therefore he resolved to make a 
pilgrimage to the hill on behalf of his daughter, she 
not being in a condition to undertake the journey in 
person. He went and remained there three days, 
praying fervently each day from station to station. 
On the fourth day he returned to his home, and was 
delighted be^-ond measure to find his daughter in her 
right mind, perfectly cured. She is now a highly 
educated young lady and at present is engaged in 
teaching school. Though a number of years have 
passed since the cure was effected, the lady has never 
experienced the least SA^mptom of her former malady. 



Two cases are reported which were of a similar 
character, the patients being middle aged women, 
and both residing in Milwaukee county. Their 
respective postoffice address is — Mrs. John Woelfl, 



MIRACULOUS CURBS. 205 

and Mrs. John Brums, of St. Martin's, Wis. Both 
were nearly helpless invalids when taken to the hill, 
being completely prostrated by nervous debility. 
They remained at the hill for several days, making 
the "Stations of the Cross" each day and praying 
devoutly at every station. At the end of six days 
each confessed that she was completely cured. 
They staj^ed there several days later to regain their 
strength, and on leaving for their homes said they 
had not felt so well in many years. Neither of them 
has ever been sick since her experience at Holy Hill. 



The case of Mr. A. Sherrer of New Munster, Wis., 
is cited as a very miraculous cure and is given in 
detail as follows: On the 25th day of August 1887, 
Mr. Sherrer was out with his gun shooting squirrels. 
As he discharged his gun, a muzzle-loader, from 
some cause unknown, the breech-pin flew out and 
backward followed by the burning charge. His 
right eye, being open, was completely filled with the 
grains of powder causing him intense pain. He was 
carefully treated by the local physician for two 
weeks following the accident but was unable to 
obtain the least relief. The doctor, seeing that he 
was growing worse instead of better, sent him to a 
celebrated occulist in Milwaukee for treatment. 
There he submitted to an operation for the removal 
of the grains of powder from his eye. He continued 
in the doctor's care for three months, during which 
time he suffered the most excruciating pain except- 
ing when under the influence of opiates. In July of 
the succeeding year he again returned to Milwaukee 



206 HOLY HILL. 

and placed himself under the treatment of one who 
was skilled in eye surgery. He remained there until 
the latter part of August with no abatement of the 
terrible pain which he endured. At length, on the 
advise of others, he abandoned all medical 
treatment and made a pilgrimage to Holy Hill. He 
arrived at Mr. Werner's on the 24th day of August 
1888. His stay at the hill was for only about ten 
days, and his experience while there is given in his 
own words, and is as follows: "The first day that I 
went up the hill, though I prayed long and earnestly 
I was unable to sense any alleviation of my pain; 
but on the second day, while praying in the chapel 
before the altar, and in the presence of others, every 
particle of pain suddenly vanished. It had been 
just one year since the accident happened, and 
during that year I had suffered untold agony and, 
to be so instantly relieved of all pain whatever, 
caused a thrill of joy to take possession of me, such 
as I cannot describe, nor can I ever forget it. It is 
over a year since I had that pleasant experience on 
Holy Hill, yet I never had the least pain in my eye 
afterwards, and can now see and bear the light as 
well as ever I could." 



Perhaps, one of the most remarkable cures ever 
effected at Holy Hill, was that of Miss Ida Klingel 
of Burlington, Wis. This lady had suffered greatly 
for a number of years with sore eyes. Her e^es and 
the lids were badly inflamed and her vision became 
so impaired that she could scarcely distinguish large 
objects, even at short distances. She could not bear 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 207 

the light of day and suffered constant pain. In this 
condition, at the age of twenty-one years, she took 
counsel with Dr. Schneider, an eminent occulist of 
Milwaukee. She was too poor to undergo the 
treatment which he recommended, and in her trouble 
a friend advised her to hold a nine days' devotion on 
Holy Hill. She immediately made preparations to 
make the pilgrimage, and in June 1887 made 
her first appearance at the hill. When she came 
there her eyes were securely bandaged, and to 
further protect them from the light, she wore a 
broad visor projecting from her brow. She was 
assisted up and down the hill for eight days in 
succession, and though she prayed fervently at every 
station, she did not seem to receive the slightest 
benefit. On the ninth day, accompanied by her 
assistant, she repaired early to the hill, praying 
earnestly and long at each station. On her arrival 
at the chapel, before the altar, she implored divine 
aid through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. 
On her return, and when she appeared before the last 
station, which is station one on the upward journey, 
she suddenly exclaimed — "My God, I can see!" and 
so it really was. She took the bandage from her 
eyes; gazed long and silently upon the statuary 
illustration in the station and wept aloud. She then 
turned to view the pleasant fields, the green trees 
and beautiful wild flowers around her. It was a 
sight that had # not blessed her vision for years, and 
she stood like one entranced, her joy being too great 
to find expression in words. She remained at the hill 
two or three weeks later, and improved in health so 
rapidly that before she left she could read news- 



208 HOLY HILL. 

papers of the finest print. It has been four years 
since her happ}^ experience at Holy Hill, and she has 
never had any return of the disease. She is now 
married, healthy, prosperous and happy. 



No case which has yet been cited is more suscep- 
tible of proof than that which relates to the cure of 
Miss Clara Kroeger of Milwaukee. This young 
lady had been afflicted with a peculiar disease of the 
eyes known as ophthalmia. The disease had 
existed for a number of years and had become firmly 
seated. Her father, being a man of means, the 
junior member of "Kroeger Brothers," Grove street, 
Milwaukee, had procured for her the services of the 
most eminent occulists in the city. Though she had 
been skilfully treated for over two years, not the 
slightest improvement could be perceived in her 
condition, but instead she continued to grow worse. 
At last she was nearly blind and suffered much pain. 
Her father had heard of the many wonderful cures 
that had been perfected on Holy Hill, and he 
persuaded his daughter, who was then twelve years 
old, to accompany him there in the hopes of obtain- 
ing relief. On a bright day in June 1886, the father 
with his little daughter arrived at the hill. In the 
morning of the first day on which they ascended the 
hill, artificial means were resorted to, in order to 
open her eye-lids. Together they took the pathway 
of the stations of the Cross, each reverently pra3'ing 
by the way-side as the\ r climbed the steep hill. The 
daughter having implicit confidence in her father, 
was inspired to believe that relief from her troubles 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 209 

was near at hand, and earnestly she prayed for that 
deliverance to come. When they reached the chapel 
their vows and promises were renewed amid their 
united supplications for relief, and which was there 
granted unto them. She was completely cured and 
they returned to their home the next day, the 
daughter being to all appearances as well as ever. 
She immediately resumed her studies and is now an 
estimable and highly educated young lady. Since 
their experience at the hill, the father and daughter 
continue to make a pilgrimage once each year to the 
sacred place where the young lady received such 
gracious benefit. 



A young son of John Mundschau, now residing 
at Dousman, Waukesha Co., was cured of epileptic 
fits, by persistent prayer in 1887. He was subject 
to them for many years and the spasms were grow- 
ing, both in frequency and intensity. After his visit 
to the hill he was never troubled with them again. 
He is now a young man and physically strong. 



There is one more cure that should have men- 
tion, and that, because of its recent occurrence. It is 
the case of Miss Katie Galinski of 676 Fifth Avenue, 
Milwaukee. The cure took place on Holy Hill on 
the second day of July, 1890. Soon after, an account 
of the cure was published in the Milwaukee Evening 
Star, and from that paper was copied into a 
number of newspapers throughout the state. Mr. 
Galinski is a Pole, but his wife is German and they 



210 HOLY HILL. 

talk German at their home. Being interviewed by a 
reporter soon after the occurrence, Mrs. Galinski 
made the following statement which is given here 
in her own words: "My little Katie here, who was 
six years old on the twenty-first of Februar\- last," 
said the mother, looking down upon a bright little 
girl clinging to her dress, "is the one who was cured 
of a terrible disease. In the month of August last 
year, sores began to appear upon the little one's face 
and body. Finally her whole head became one 
entire sore, so that her hair had to be cut off short. 

In October we took her to Dr. E who told me 

the child had scrofula and that it would take a long 
time to cure her. He gave me a prescription.to be 
filled which he said would give her relief. I got the 
medicine which cost fifty-five cents and it lasted just 
one week. For a number of weeks I continued to 
have the medicine put up and gave it according to 
directions. At times it seemed to help a little, but I 
could see no real good effects from it. This con- 
tinued through the winter, and the last of May I 
went to the doctor again and asked him if he could 
not do something to help my poor child. He looked 
at her head, said it was a bad case, and there was 
danger of it getting worse as the weather grew 
warmer. He then gave me some salve to apply to 
her head, and to my great joy the sore disappeared 
after a few applications. But in a few days the dis- 
ease broke out on one of her knees, and it soon 
looked as if the limb would have to be taken off to 
save her life. On the first day of July, when I was 
completely filled with grief and despair, I noticed my 
neighbor in the yard hurrying about as if preparing 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 211 

for some unusual event. I asked her if she was 
going away, and she answered that she had ar- 
ranged to go to Holy Hill the next day. 'Oh, that's 
the place where people go to get cured, is it not?' I 
remarked, 'Yes.' She replied 'Well then, I think I 
will go, and take my Katie along.' In the evening I 
asked my husband's permission to go and he readily 
consented. I secured a ticket at once, and the next 
day found us at the famous hill. When we alighted 
from the 'bus Katie was in great pain and said, 'I 
can never walk up that steep hill.' I told her she 
must try and we finally reached the top. Then I 
told her she must pray to Holy Mary. 'Mother I 
can't pray, I am in such pain,' replied Katie. 'Well, 
but you must ask the Blessed Mary to pray for you.' 
We walked about, went into the church, drank of 
water, pra^^ed and when dinner time came we 
walked down the hill. Katie said no more about 
her pain, and I forgot to ask her about it. After 
dinner we walked up and down the hill again and 
she got along nicely and did not complain. On our 
way home we were caught in a thunder shower and 
Katie got very wet. I was afraid she might take 
cold and as soon as we got home I put her into dry 
clothes and placed her in bed. I usually had to get 
up two or three times every night to tend her, but 
that night she slept soundly. Next morning about 
nine o'clock, while sewing, I heard a sudden 
''bump" up stairs, and the next moment Katie was 
by my side. 'Did you fall out of bed?' I asked — 'No 
mammal jumped out,' she said. 'Well but let me 
see your knee,' I asked. To my great surprise the 
sore was gone, and in its place only a few red spots 



212 HOLY KILL. 

were left to mark the place where it had been. For 
nine days we prayed and gave thanks together, and 
now Katie is as well as ever. One thing is certain — 
I shall always be thankful that I took that journey 
to Holy Hill." 



Many other cases might be cited in proof of this 
mysterious and wonderful power to eliminate 
various diseases from the human body. But the 
addition of more would not convince those w T ho are 
so prejudiced in their minds, that they will not stop 
to listen to any arguments however reasonable they 
may appear. It w^as this same perverse will and 
stubbornness of disposition that caused the Jews to 
disbelieve in the teachings of and discredit the mira- 
cles wrought by Christ. Simply because the\ r did not 
want to believe, they would not believe even those 
things which they saw w r ith their ow r n eyes. 

From the cures already mentioned, it will be 
perceived that there is a peculiar sameness extend- 
ing through all the cases cited. In no single instance 
was there a cure effected, or relief obtained, except 
through the prayerful supplication of the afflicted 
one, or the prayers of others in his behalf. It will also 
be seen, that the experience of all, at the moment of 
relief, was in each case nearly similar, neither having 
had any warning or previous admonition of what 
was about to take place. And further, among all 
the cures cited, is there no single instance where the 
convalescent had a return of his former complaint. 
Therefore, it must be inferred that the same restor- 
ing power or element that brought relief in any one 



MIRACULOUS CURES. 213 

instance, was manifestly the curative agency present 
in every case. 

There are some who are too skeptical to admit 
that these cures emanate from a divine influence, 
but who are willing to concede that they actually did 
take place as stated. Such persons usually have 
some theory which they ascribe as the real cause; 
and most generally they claim that the cures are 
brought about by a sudden change in air, water and 
diet; or that they are produced by a radical change 
in the scenery and surroundings of the patient; such 
as the immediate transfer from a bustling city life to 
haunts of the loneliest solitude. As to this, it has 
been shown that in every case that has been report- 
ed, the cure was consummated in a far too brief 
space of time for such a theory to be even admiss- 
ible. And again, how can such a theory be made to 
apply to the daughter of Herman Verhalen? 

It is not within the province of the writer to 
elucidate or more fully explain the beneficent power 
by which these cures are said to be effected. 
As to the incentive cause, and the subsequent 
mysterious manifestation tending the produce the 
desired and ultimate result, he leaves it for those who 
are better versed in theology and the scriptural 
teachings to more fully interpret. 

If, as is maintained by many, these cures are 
perfected from causes other than at divine instance, 
then there is wanting some authentic proof, based 
upon scientific reasonings, to substantiate such 
theories. In the absence of such proof, as is now the 
existing status, it is much better, more charitable, 
christian like and pleasant for all concerned, to let 



214 HOLY HILL. 

those who do believe enjoy their honest convictions. 
Those who believe,, in all sincerity, that these cures 
in every instance are wrought directly through 
divine influence, when sought with abiding faith and 
earnest prayer, are entitled to that privilege, and 
ought not to be subject to molestation or ridicule 
from any; especially as it interferes with no man's 
rights, private or public, and is, to them, a sacred 
enjoyment, secondary to none which earth affords. 
In concluding this chapter the author wishes to 
add, that none of the cases quoted has been colored 
in the least from the original statements of those 
cured, or by some one in their behalf who was well 
knowing to the facts. On the contrary- he has 
thought proper to modify the statements of a few 
somewhat, though the main features of each coincide 
with the facts as given. The statements in the case 
of John Merkel are certified to by his wife Elisabeth, 
which certificate, among others, is now on file in the 
archives of St. Mary's church on Holy Hill. That 
the incredulous might have access to a personal 
statement by the cured, the writer, as far as practic- 
able, has been particular to give correct names, 
nature of each disease, the date of cure and the 
present postoffice address of such as are now known. 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 



\ x / as it not for the fact that the history of Holy 
* * Hill would appear incomplete without the 
story of the wonderful "hermit" being told, this and 
the subsequent chapter would have remained un- 
written but from the fact that so strange and 
eccentric a personage, was once and for many \ r ears 
domiciled among the lonely hills, a mention of his 
presence there and a short sketch of his life is deemed 
to be a pertinent part of the hill's history. He was 
a man whose uncouth habits, strange ways and 
odd methods of living were so at variance with those 
of mankind in general that his name and fame soon 
became familiar to all for miles around. In fact, his 
presence lent such an influence to the place that, 
for a time, the very name of the hill was changed. 
Hermit Hill was the name commonly applied to the 



216 HOLY HILL. 

place during his sojourn there, and it is even known 
and called by that name by many of the older people 
to-day. 

The date of his advent among the hills is some- 
what shrouded in mystery and is very uncertain, as 
not all of his contemporaries agree as to the exact 
time. It is, however, generally conceded that he 
must have come sometime in the spring of 1864. He 
may have been there for sometime before his presence 
was discovered, as he studiously avoided all contact 
with the outside world, and maintained while there 
a life of profound seclusion. 

His presence on the hill was first noticed by the 
late James Gorry, at least he was the first to make 
mention of the fact. His farm was just a half mile 
due east from the hill, and, as he related, while seed- 
ing in the month of April in the year referred to, he 
saw one morning what appeared to be a man on the 
summit of the hill. He took but little notice of the 
object as it was customary to see people on the hill 
at all hours of the day. The next morning he saw 
the form again, and clearly outlined against the blue 
sky. It appeared to be that of a man, near the cross 
and in the attitude of prayer. This continued for 
several mornings in succession, and until his seeding 
was done, when, in company with his neighbor, 
Murtha Doon, he went to the hill to investigate and 
see who the "lone pilgrim" might be. 

After toiling up the hill, and on their arrival at 
the top, they found themselves in the presence of a 
stranger. As he was in the act of praying they kept 
at a distance until he had finished his devotion. 
They then approached and addressed him in a 



THE HERMIT OF HOE Y HILL. 217 

friendly manner, asking several questions. Their 
interrogatories were met by a haughty stare and a 
forbidding frown from the stranger. His replies 
were short and evasive, and were anything but 
interesting or satisfactory to his would-be inter- 
viewers. The little he said was in broken English 
excepting once he replied in German, yet neither 
language appeared to be his mother tongue. 

He was above the average height of man and was 
apparently quite well advanced in years. His form 
was spare, but stately and commanding. His large 
dark eyes looked piercingly out from beneath the 
heavy black eye-brows which set off with good effect 
his ample and intellectual fore-head. A heavy 
mantle enveloped his form and hid from sight his 
nether garments, while his head was covered with a 
black slouch hat. In one hand he carried a long, 
heavy, rude staff and in the other an open book. 
From his looks and manners it did not require the 
wisdom of an expert to determine that the man was 
laboring under some aberration of the mind. This 
much discovered Mr. Gorry and his companion, 
which caused them to withdraw from a further 
investigation. 

On their return home they had a wonderful story 
to relate of the strange person they had met on the 
hill. The news that a hermit had taken up his abode 
on Holy Hill soon spread over the near neighbor- 
hood and he had many interviewers each day. A 
party going for that purpose one day discovered 
that he had made his home in a sort of a' " dugout" 
in the lower part of the deep ravine, opposite to 
where the parsonage now stands. It was a rude 



218 HOLY HILL. 

affair and served only as a lodging place, the front 
being protected by old logs and bark, such as he 
could conveniently scrape together. There were few 
articles to be seen and no utensils for cooking, yet he 
must have made it serve as a sort of a lodging place 
for some time. 

Soon visitors and curiosity- seekers began to 
flock to the hill, all anxious to catch a glimpse of the 
now noted man. Seeing so many every day seemed 
to make a change in his behavior for the better. He 
was more talkative and pleasant in his ways and 
actions, and finahV ventured out for a call on his 
nearest neighbors. They assisted him by giving him 
food and other needed comforts of life. Finalh' a 
few neighbors clubbed together and assisted in build- 
ing him a rude log hut. It was very diminutive in 
size and of the rudest construction. A picture of 
this humble hermitage may be seen on the opposite 
page. The cut shows indistinctly for the reason 
that it was made after a small photograph. This 
photograph was taken in 1872, by the late F. C. 
Kendall, and is the only one of the hermitage now 
in existence. 

The old hermitage was located on the south 
slope of the ravine and stood about five rods east 
from the northeast corner of the parsonage. It 
fronted to the south and the little shed to the east of 
the main part was covered with bark. It contained 
only one door and a small window, which were on 
the front side, and above the door was nailed a rude 
cross. The whole surroundings were then of 
intense loneliness, and the majority of those who 
found themselves in the presence of this lonely haunt 




THE OLD HERMITAGE. 



THE HERMIT OF HOL Y HILL. 221 

hurried by with mingled feelings of awe and iear. 

As the hermit grew on friendly terms with a few 
of his nearer neighbors, he gave to them his name, 
which he said was Francois Sotibris; but further 
than this, he could not be induced to tell anything of 
his past life. That, to him and all others, was as a 
sealed book. From his conversation, it developed 
that he was of French origin, for when he chanced to 
find one who could talk that language, it seemed to 
have the magic effect of unloosing his tongue, and he 
would talk to such for hours together. 

His aversion to strangers was great and undis- 
guised, and he shunned their company as best he 
might. If he could not escape from interviewers 
and they plied him with too many questions, their 
inquiries were sure to be met with an answer in the 
nature of a rebuke for their impertinence. He also 
entertained a great dislike for women and children, 
and in this instance the dislike was mutual, for had 
he been a ghost of the dead, they would not have ex- 
ercised more caution to avoid a personal encounter. 

To all who took notice of his strange actions, 
random speech and bewildered gaze, it was plainly 
evident that he was a kind of monomaniac; one in 
whom some single faculty of the mind had become 
deranged and subverted from its rational functions. 
At times he would have lucid intervals when his 
mind would appear clear and his conversation would 
not only be interesting, but would indicate an intelli- 
gence of the highest order. Such spells of sanity 
were often abruptly terminated, and as suddenly 
would his mind lapse into a state of semi-oblivion 
to all things present. 



222 HOLY HILL. 

By some it has been erroneously stated that he 
came to the hill with the object of being cured of 
some bodily ailment, and that he was cured of 
rheumatism or some other lameness. All such 
statements are wholly without foundation. His 
disease wai? purely of the mind, and not of the 
body. Xo one who ever interviewed him was mis- 
taken as to his true malady. All his speech and 
actions plainly showed that was laboring under 
some great burden of mind. He had a few old books 
which showed unmistakable evidence of constant 
use. When left alone, he kept up a constant, inco- 
herent conversation with himself, and would at 
times while in the presence of others. A poetical 
description of the hermit is given by the author 
in his poem of the ''Hermit of Holy Hill," which 
was partially published in 1881, shortly after the 
hermit departed. It is thought proper to introduce 
it here. 




THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 



He made his advent here, among 
The hills, when all was wild and young; 
When dwellers few and far between, 
Had chanced this wild romantic scene. 
He came, yet no one knew from where, 
But they saw and felt his presence there. 

At morn, upon the summit high, 
His form was seen against the sky, 
And bowed, as though in earnest pra\ r er, 
With head uncovered, bald and bare. 
His long thin locks of silvery gre3 r , 
Each passing breeze did sport and sway; 

While ever and anon he raised 
His face aloft and heavenward gazed, 
And held his long lank arms on high, 
As though he sought to reach the sky. 
And thus for hours he knelt there low. 
Unconscious of the world below. 



224 HOLY HILL. 

At mid-day oft his form was seen 
Far downward in the deep ravine — 
It was his home, where }'ears he strayed 
Alone, beneath the wildwood's shade; 
And many oft have met him there — 
An aged. man, tall, thin and spare. 

His form erect, and shapely wrought 
As statue, carved with studied thought; 
Of lofty mien and step that showed 
He once had trod some courtly road; 
While in his bearing lingered yet 
The cast which princely sires beget. 

His ample brow and head denoted 

The many years of study spent, 
When - he to science was devoted 

In youth's bright days that came and went. 
That came and went, but left their trace, 
For time or toil can ne'er efface, 
Or blot from off the face that lives, 
That dignity which learning gives. 

His large dark eyes, whose piercing look, 
The fire\ T blood of youth could quell, 

And send them shiv'ring from that nook, 
Betrayed his wand'ring mind too well, 

And showed a burdened soul o'er wrought 

With hardship, trouble, care and thought. 

Clad in a robe of modest sample, 

And black as any coffin's pall; 
With flowing sleeves, and collar ample, 

Its spacious folds enveloped all. 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 225 

'Twas gathered tight about the middle, 
And fastened with a silken girdle, 
Whose tasseled tips securely tied, 
Hung pendent from his dexter side. 

A Maltese cross of burnished gold, 
Beneath his mantel's outer fold, 
Reclined upon his breast, dependent, 
By chain of beads with pearls resplendent, 
Within one hand a book was shielded; 
An oaken staff the other wielded. 

A misanthrope who hated men, 
But long the monarch of the glen; 
Who held mankind in fear and awe, 
More rigid than the written law; 
Who did o'er them a power exert, 
A charm that none might dare avert; 
But all obeyed the iron will 
Of him, the Hermit of the Hill. 




LIFE OF THE HERMIT. 



I he history' of the hermit will be but brief!}' re- 
lated in this work, for to follow in detail all the 
important passages in the life of this strange adven- 
turer would require volumes. Owing to limited space 
only the main features of his life can be given here. 
All the events of the hermit's life have already been 
written by the author poetically, but the}' are too 
highly colored with romance for a work of this kind, 
and only a few of the more commonplace sketches of 
the work have been introduced. The information 
from which this chapter is written is derived from 
one who confessed that it was communicated to him 
by the hermit shortly before his departure from 
the hill. 

From the best information, PVancois Soubris was 
born about the year 1804, near the city of Metz, 
in Lorraine, then a province of France. He was the 



THE HERMIT OF HOE Y HILL. 227 

only child of Louis Soubris, who was at that time 
an officer in the French army. When young Soubris 
was only eight years of age his mother died, 
and as his father was shifting about from place to 
place with a detachment of the French army, he was 
sent to Mannheim on the Rhine to live with an uncle, 
his mother's brother. 

He was quite a prepossessing child, and his uncle 
soon adopted him as one of his own famify. He 
sent him to school where he advanced in his studies 
rapidly, and was always at the head of his class. 
When he was sixteen his uncle sent him to a 
university at Frankfort-on-the Main, and where he 
completed his education, graduating at the age of 
nineteen years. 

On his return home he assisted his uncle in his 
business. Their home was just outside the city of 
Mannheim where his uncle owned and cultivated a 
large vineyard, the fruit of which was converted into 
wine. Besides being a producer, his uncle did a 
large business in buying and exporting wine. For 
convenience in shipping he kept a large wine ware- 
house in the city near to the river Rhine. Here 
Francois spent the greater part of his time, looking 
to the shipments, keeping the books and attending 
to the correspondence. 

He had been in his uncle's employ about two 
years when a circumstance arose which changed his 
whole subsequent course of life. In the vicinity of 
his uncle's home, and on the usual route to the 
business part of the city, was a hotel, or Wivths- 
hans, kept by a middle aged man whom his custom- 
ers called Caspar. His place "was a favorite resort 



228 HOLY HILL. 

for business men, being outside of the bustle and 
turmoil of the city, and here the uncle of Francois 
spent much of his time, especially evenings. On his 
way home from the office the young man was 
accustomed to call there for his uncle and wait to 
accompany' him home. 

Old Caspar had but one child, a daughter 
Margaret, who at the time was fifteen years of 
age. She had a lively disposition and was a very 
handsome and attractive young lady. It was her 
custom, at times when many guests were present, 
to assist her father in waiting upon them. Some- 
times when Francois called in the evening for his 
uncle he would order a goblet of wine, which 
Maggie would bring and place before him. During 
her leisure moments she would seat herself at the 
table opposite to him and they would converse 
together in low tones, sometimes for hours. A 
warm attachment sprang up between the two which 
soon developed into ardent love, the result of which 
proved to be a life of misery and sorrow for both. 

Old Caspar and the youngman's uncle soon took 
notice of their growing attachment and after a brief 
consultation concluded that it must be terminated 
at once. They were of different religious castes, 
which their elders deemed was a sufficient barrier to a 
closer union. The young man was forbidden the 
house or further interviews with the young lad\', and 
she was guarded with the utmost vigilance and kept 
from his presence. 

Francois, foiled of his dearest object in life, medi- 
tated revenge on both his persecutors, and was not 
long in maturing his plans. He had one real friend 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 229 

and companion in the son of a ship captain who 
transported their wine from Mannheim to the sea- 
board. He was about his own age and to him 
he confided all his plans, which his friend promised 
to assist him in carrying out. By his aid a private 
meeting between the two was arranged to take 
place the next evening at the house of a friend. 
That evening Francois did not return to the home of 
his uncle nor did he ever again. That was to be his 
last evening in Mannheim and he was patiently 
waiting for the hour, set for his farewell meeting 
with Maggie, to come. Both were promptly on 
hand at the appointed hour; an hour, to them, of 
mingled joy and sadness; an hour in which hope and 
faith constituted the sustaining elements in the 
hearts of each. Francois disclosed to her that every- 
thing was in readiness for his departure for America 
that very evening, and promised that as soon as 
circumstances would permit he would either return 
for her or send her the means to follow him. To all 
which Maggie readily consented, and with many 
assurances that each would remain constant to the 
other, though it should take ten years to consummate 
their plans and ardent wishes, with a fond farewell 
they parted, not to meet again in many years. 

Francois was soon upon the street where he 
found his friend waiting. In less than an hour they 
were on board the old captain's barge, drifting 
rapidly downward with the swift current of the 
turbulent waters of the river Rhine. On their 
arrival at the sea port the old man and his son soon 
found the master of a sailing vessel who agreed to 
give Francois transportation across the ocean for 



230 HOLY HILL. 

his help on shipboard. As the ship was to sail the 
next morning he was secretly conveyed aboard the 
same evening. The next morning at break of day 
the ship weighed anchor and stood out to sea. 

Francois helped the sailors to unfurl the great 
sails one by one until all her canvass was spead to 
the wind. Then he felt relieved, proud and defiant, 
as he felt the staunch ship bounding over the waves 
and saw the shores of his native land fast receding 
from his view. It was this feeling that caused him 
in after } r ears to recall the circumstance with the 
following sad refrain: 

•'Ah! Maggie dear, you never knew 
The high resolve that filled my brain. 

As on the deck I stood, while flew 
Our bark like sea-bird o'er the main— 

As one by one the sails unfurled, 

I thought it was a manly part. 
To go and battle with the world, 

And make me worthy of thy heart. 

My days have been many and sad since then. 
Yet no love of my heart has ever been 

Like the love I bore for thee. 
I have won honor and fortune and fame. 
But what now to me is an empty name. 

Since thou art lost to me? 

Before leaving it was arranged that all corres- 
pondence between the two should be conducted 
through and intrusted to their mutual friend. 

The ship was destined for Quebec, where after a 
stormy voyage of many weeks it safely landed, and 
Francois set out to look for work. Being a stranger 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 231 

in a strange land he was unable to procure anything" 
excepting odd jobs and poor pay. He struggled on 
for over two years and then left for New York City. 
Here he met with no better success, and after 
another year spent in a fruitless search for profitable 
employment he left for Baltimore and thence for 
Charleston. He was unused to hard manual labor 
and his knowledge of the English language was too 
limited to secure for him a position such as his 
education would otherwise warrant. 

He had been in Charleston only a few weeks when, 
to his great delight, he chanced to meet one evening 
a gentleman who had been a student with him at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main. An intimacy sprang up at 
once between him and his new found friend, who 
was engaged in teaching a private school, giving 
lessons in the French and German languages. It so 
happened that his friend had, a few days previous to 
their meeting, been appointed to a clerkship in one 
of the government departments at Washington, and 
he therefore prevailed upon Francois to take charge 
of his school which he consented to do. His friend 
assisted him for two weeks, when seeing that he 
filled the requirements admirably, he turned it over 
to his full charge. It was a position that he was 
well qualified for and he held it successfully for nearly 
five years, relinquishing it then of his own choice. 
He was now, for the first time since he landed in 
this country, earning good wages, and at the end of 
the first year he proceeded to carry out his agree- 
ment with Maggie by sending her the money to paw- 
ner passage to this country. During the four years 
he had been absent, he had sent her many letters and 



232 HOLY HILL. 

had always received prompt and assuring answers. 
But to the letter containing the money he received 
no reply, though he waited patientl\ r for over a year 
and wrote mam- letters of inquiry. One day he was 
surprised to receive a letter mailed from Mannheim, 
which on being opened was found to contain the 
identical money he had sent over a year before but 
in it not one single word of explanation. He was 
greath^ worried OA r er the mysterious affair which he 
was unable to solve. He wrote a number of letters 
afterwards but no answer ever came back to him, 
and as the } r ears passed by, time but increased his 
strong desire to go and investigate that, which had 
deprived him of every pleasure in life. 

He had now acquired considerable means and he 
decided to resign his position and return to his 
native land. Accordingly, in August, 1833, he closed 
up his affairs and took passage for his early home. 
He reached Mannheim the latter part of September 
after an absence of nearly ten years. He arrived in 
the city quite late in the evening and proceeded 
directly to the hotel of old Caspar. Upon the streets 
he did not recognize any one he ever knew, and 
certainly none would have known him. Ten years 
at that period in life had wrought quite a change in 
his appearance. 

As he entered the hotel door he noticed from 
the first glance that everything there had undergone 
a great change. Old Caspar was no longer in his 
accustomed place, but a much younger man instead. 
The old customers who were wont to be seated 
around the tables were there no more, but strangers 
filled their seats. He took his place at the table and 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 233 

called for a glass of wine. While sipping away, he 
kept close watch of the door through which, in years 
gone by, he had seen Maggie so often enter the 
room, but she came not. He waited patiently until 
the customers had gone to their homes, then he 
ordered more wine and invited the landlord to drink 
along. He took a seat at the table and the conver- 
sation began. He asked in regard to old Caspar, 
and was informed by the young man that he had 
died some six years before. Then he enquired as to 
his uncle, and was answered that he was still living, 
thotigh confined to his house a helpless invalid. 
Gradually Francois shifted his conversation until he 
ventured to enquire what had become of old Caspar's 
wife and his daughter Maggie. The landlord being 
warmed with wine and interested in the stranger, 
proceeded to give an account of the family, but he 
little thought that his recital fell like burning coals 
upon the brain of his stranger guest. 

His narration of the facts ran as follows: Said 
he, "soon after old Caspar died, the widow and her 
daughter, being without much means, were forced to 
give up this place, and they moved to a little cottage 
about three blocks from here where they are now 
living. About a year after her father died, the young 
lady married a boatman on the Rhine. He proved 
to be a reckless, drinking sort of a fellow, and on his 
return up the river, about one year ago, at Coblenz, 
he and two of his companions were drowned b^- the 
upsetting of a yawl boat. Those knowing to the 
facts say that the accident was the result of a pro- 
tracted spree. Since then the old lady and her 
daughter, who has one son, have been living at the 



234 HOLY HILL. 

place I mentioned, and are now in quite reduced 
circumstances." 

The landlord had hardly ceased speaking when 
Francois asked with great haste and anxiety the 
name of Maggie's husband. As he had already 
surmised, from the beginning of his entertainer's 
story, it was none other than his trusted friend. He 
understood it all now and his heart was steeled 
against any developments that might follow. He 
said to his informer that he had known the family in 
former A-ears and that he greatly desired to see them 
once more, and asked him if he would kindly lead 
the way to the cottage where they were living. To 
this request the landlord readily consented, and the 
two were soon wending their way in that direction. 
When they drew near the humble cottage his guide 
pointed it out saying: "There it is, I will now leave 
you by yourself." 

A light was still burning and its cheerful rays 
shone through the half curtained window. As 
Francois passed through the little gate he paused an 
instant to scan the interior of the room, and saw 
within, the old lad\^ seated in a chair rocking a child, 
but he was unable to discover any other inmate. He 
could bear the suspense no longer and, stepping 
quietly up to the door, rapped. His summons was 
answered by the old lady who appeared at the door 
with the child in her arms, and though she did not 
recognize him, she bade him enter and be seated. He 
informed her that his errand was to see and speak 
with her daughter for a few moments. She answered 
that Maggie was not feeling well, but stepped to a 
door leading to another room and called her. In a 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 235 

few moments Maggie appeared through the door, 
but, Oh ! how changed in those ten years since last 
they met! Her pale cheeks and emaciated form 
showed too plainly that she also had undergone her 
full share of sorrow and disappointment. They 
gazed intently at each other but only an instant, and 
then each others names simultaneously fell from their 
lips — Francois! Maggie! Then followed an interval of 
ominous silence. 

All the sorrow occasioned by their final meeting 
will never be known. Suffice it to say, that Maggie 
was the first to break that silence, and told, amid her 
tears of anguish, how his friend continued to visit 
her for years and exchange the letters that passed 
between them. How he came one evening with a 
letter which purported to be written by a doctor 
from Charleston, America, and which stated that 
Francois had died and was buried there; in proof of 
which she produced the forged and deceitful letter. 
Then she spoke of how, after her father's death, his 
friend continued his visits to her, and finally con- 
fessed his love and offered his hand in marriage. 
How she at first and for a long time refused to 
accept his offer, until at last in consideration of his 
professed friendship for him, together with the 
pecuniary circumstances of herself and aged mother, 
she had yielded, though reluctantly, to his proposal, 
and that she had never known one moment of happi- 
ness since then. 

When Francois left the little cottage that night 
it was with a lighter purse and a heavier heart than 
when he entered it. His remorse for the ingratitude 
he had shown his uncle; his ignominy for the base 



236 HOLY HILL. 

treachery of his trusted and confidential friend and 
his lost confidence in mankind, all had conspired to 
crush his heart and threatened to destroy his reason. 
When he again crossed the threshold of that home, 
now forever dead to him, the fresh air of the Sep- 
tember morning came like a cooling balm to his 
heated brain, while the light of the coming day had 
begun to streak the eastern heavens above the high 
mountain peaks of the majestic Heidelberg in Baden. 

Henceforth he was a wanderer upon the face of 
earth. He made his way out of the city under cover 
of darkness lest some might recognize him, and in 
due time he arrived at the seaport where he shipped 
aboard a merchant vessel. The next ten years he 
spent upon the water and traversed nearly every 
sea. In 1845 he landed at Vera Cruz and proceeded 
to Mexico city, and was there when Gen. Scott on 
September 14th, 1847, triumphantly entered that 
city. The next season gold was discovered in 
California and thither he wended his way. He 
remained in the mountain gulches until 1860, and 
then started on a trip across the continent, landing 
at his former home in Charleston in the fall. The next 
year when the war broke out, not wishing to take 
sides with either faction, he set his face to the north 
and in due time arrived at Quebec, Canada. Soon 
after reaching that city he engaged to do light work 
for an old professor who had retired from active life. 
Being A r ery fond of reading, the old gentleman gave 
him free access to his library, where he passed his 
leisure time. 

One evening in overhauling the books he came 
across an old parchment map, giving a rude outline 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 237 

of Wisconsin and lake Michigan, with the course of 
three rivers traced across the territory running in a 
southwesterly direction, one of them being near the 
western shore of the lake. From near the lake's 
center, north and south, was a line drawn inland, 
terminating with a cross. The map was dated 1676, 
and marginal notes explained that the cross was 
located on a high eminence. This map interested 
him so greatly that he copied it, and soon after set 
out to visit and investigate the place described. 

The advent of the hermit at the hill, oi which 
mention has already been made, tallies with this 
date, or nearly so from the best evidence at hand. 
His coming was very mysterious, as was also his 
departure. No one has any knowledge of the exact 
date when he left, nor can anyone tell where he went 
after leaving the hill. It has been claimed by some 
that he was seen years afterwards in St. Louis, but 
as to this, there is nothing authentic. We submit 
here the writer's version of the "last interview, "from 
the "Hermit of Holy Hill." 



THE LAST INTERVIEW. 



One summer evening late in June, 

Old Roman left his cottage sill, 
To pray, and with the saints commune 

Upon the high and hol\- Hill. 
As wandering on with book in hand, 

Now lost in solemn reverie, 
He paused at intervals to stand, 

And tell his beads of rosarv. 



His pathway through the forest led, 

As up the steep ascent he strode; 
The rising moon its luster shed, 

And lit the lonely pilgrim's road. 
Anon the outer hill was passed, 

Thence downward through the deep defile, 
He reached the Hermit's hut at last 

And halts before the rustic pile. 



THE HERMIT OF HOLY HILL. 239 

No cheerful ray of light awoke 

To life that wretched human lair; 
No sound the solemn stillness broke, 

Save Roman's low and muttered prayer. 
He prayed awhile and said his beads, 

Then moved with slow and solemn pace, 
To where the lonely pathway leads 

Far upward to the shriving place. 



Not far his footsteps had advanced, 

When lo! he saw upon the left — 
To where his eager vision glanced, 

A form that seemed of life bereft! 
Quick passing to the dreamer's side, 

As moonbeams through the darkness broke, 
He thought the Hermit he espied; 

Then bending low old Roman spoke — 

"Francois, is this thy form I see 

Alone, with darkness overhead. 
Out stretched beneath this ancient tree, 

Sa} T , is it thou, or art thou dead? 
St. Mary! save my withered frame, 

Old age hath made my vision weak — 
I charge thee here, in heaven's name, 

If thou art Francois, speak, speak!" 

He paused and waited for reply 
An instant, while dead silence reigned — 

He listened — First a long drawn sigh, 
Then Francois answered, and explained — 



240 HOLY HILL. 

"Yes, Roman, it is I, and thou 
Hast chanced this meeting opportune; 

The time has come, and, Roman now, 
If thou canst bide yon passing moon, 

Shall hear from me the Hermit's tale — 

The secrets of my advent here, 
A:ad why I've trod this dismal vale 

Through many a long and weary year." 
Then Roman spoke — "Most gracious sire, 

Though age forbids my lengthy stay 
To hear thy tale, my strong desire 

Doth all infirmities outweigh." 

"Speak on, each circumstance relate, 

To hear thee tell I here will stay 
In spite of age or crippled state. 

Though it outlasts the coming day" 
"Then Roman, first thy form dispose 

Recumbent by the side of mine; 
Old age. like ours, demands repose 

We both have lived man's lotted time. 



"For I have seventy summers seen, 

As from my record it appears, 
And by th\^ aspect and thy mien 

Thou art my senior still, in years." 
So rested they, this aged twain, 

That summer evening in the vale 
Just as the moon began to wane. 

The Hermit, then took up the tale. 



TRADITIONAL HISTORY. 



Ihere is a number of circumstances connected 
with the traditional history of Holy Hill 
which tend to show that the place was visited by 
white men over two hundred years ago. It is quite 
certain, as authentic history relates, that the French 
missionaries coasted the western shore of Lake 
Michigan from the mouth of the Chicago river to 
Green Bay on several occasions during the summers 
from 1673 to 1679. The early adventurers had 
two objects in view; one, to explore the country 
west of Lake Michigan, also the Mississippi river 
and its tributaries between it and the lake; and the 
other object was the conversion of the Indian tribes 
to the Catholic religion. During these journeys up 
and down the lake, using only frail canoes, they were 
obliged to keep close to the shore. The nights were 
spent on the land, and they would frequently 
remain in one place for several days at a time. On 
such occasions it was their custom to erect crosses 
on some of the more prominent elevations. 

Foremost among these early missionaries and 



242 HOLY HILL. 

intrepid explorers was Father James Marquette. He, 
in company with Louis Joliet, left Green Bay in 
June 1673, and ascended the Fox river as far as 
Portage, where they crossed to the Wisconsin, and 
thence down that river to the Mississippi. They re- 
turned by ascending the Illinois and found their way 
to Lake Michigan by that and the Chicago river, 
landing where Chicago now stands in the early part 
of September the same year. Marquette then pro- 
ceeded to Green Bay by coasting along the west 
shore of Lake Michigan, and arrived at his destina- 
tion earry in October. Again in October, 1674, 
Father Marquette left the "portage" opposite 
Sturgeon Bay, and coasted back to the mouth of the 
Chicago river which he reached late in November. 
On this trip he was accompanied by Pere and 
Jacques Marquette, and ten canoes of Indians. They 
were forty da} T s making the journey, and as the 
distance is less than two hundred miles they un- 
doubtedly spent much of their time on shore. At 
one time they were delayed five days, about fifteen 
miles north of Milwaukee, in what is now the town 
of Mequon. From subsequent evidence, it is believed 
that at this time some of their party made a detour 
inland, to the west, in hopes of finding Rock river 
which they knew was not far away. The traditions 
of the Indians say that they only went as far as 
Holy Hill, and, failing to discover the river, they 
erected a cros^ on the hill and returned to their 
companions the next da}\ This theory is not im- 
probable, and the journey might have been made, as 
the distance to be traveled was less than twenty 
miles inland. 



TRADITIONAL. 243 

The theory of this visit to the hill by white men 
at so early a date coincides with the description 
lound on the hermit's map. Not only was the course 
of the journey traced out, but the cross designated 
the end of the journey. In addition to this par- 
ticular cross there were several others located at 
different points along the lake shore from the mouth 
of the Chicago river to Green Bay. However, as the 
stor\ r of the hermit and his chart, is somewhat 
vague and uncertain, and like the history of his life, 
shrouded in mystery, such evidence must be regarded 
as unauthentic and uncertain. 

Other adventurers followed the example set by 
Father Marquette, and for several years after, 
expeditions coasted the west shore of Lake Michigan 
between Chicago and Green Bay. Some of these, 
like Father Marquette, were endeavoring to establish 
missions to proselyte the different tribes of Indians, 
along the coast of the lake, to the Catholic faith. 
Other expeditions were made in the interest of trade 
or discovery. In October 1679, Louis Joliet and 
Sieur La Salle, in company with a number of others, 
made a similar coasting trip between the two places 
in the interest of the fur trade. They were nearly 
two months making the journey, and several 'times, 
owing to fierce storms, they were obliged to put to 
shore for safety. 

Every Indian tribe, whose haunts were in the 
vicinity of Holy Hill, had a tradition, and firmly 
believed, that white men visited the hill very many 
years ago. In June 184-4, Charles Frederick Hecker 
settled on land on the east shore of Pike Lake. At 
that time there was a large family of Pottawatomies 



244 HOLY HILL. 

encamped near where he built his house. Old Ke- 
waskum was their chief and they remained there a 
number of j^ears after the white settlers came. Mr. 
Hecker, who was an old bachelor and lived alone, 
was a very eccentric man, but was on very 
friendly terms with the Indians, especially old Ke- 
waskum. He used to relate how, after the work 
was done, he and the old chief would sit on a log 
and smoke for hours together. One evening as they 
sat facing Pulford's hill, a short distance to the east, 
their conversation turned to the object before them. 
Suddenly old Kewaskum. pointing to the south, said 
— "About an hour's walk in that direction is a hill 
larger than this. I have heard my father tell that 
white men came there many years ago and placed a 
cross on the top of it. I can't tell how many years 
ago it was, but my father said that his grand-father 
was there at the time it was done." 

Other tribes in the same locality had the same 
tradition. Away back in the early "forties," when 
the first settlers came in, there were several families 
of the Menomonies scattered along the Oconomowoc 
river from below Loew's lake on the south, to 
Fries' lake on the east. Old Monches was the chief 
of this tribe at the time, and was always on friendly 
terms w T ith the white people. Living in the vicinity 
of the hill, whenever by chance it was alluded to, he 
would become greatly interested and loved to tell of 
how his tribe was knowing to the fact that white 
men once came from Lake Michigan many years 
before and planted a cross on its top. When speak- 
ing of the event he would always illustrate his story 
by marking the shape of a cross, either in the snow, 



TRADITIONAL. 245 

sand or whatever soft substance happened to be the 
most conveniently at hand. Though he could not 
explain just the number of years that had passed 
since then, yet he was positive that it happened, 
and many, many years ago. 

It may seem strange to say, as it is sad to admit, 
that the remains of both Kewaskum and Monches, 
after their death, were subjected to most shameful and 
ghoulish usage, and at the hands of a race for which 
they had shown great friendship, while living. 
Both shared a similar fate, for each, after he had 
been buried over twenty years, was dug up from his 
humble, shallow grave by relic hunters and his bones 
left to bleach upon the surface or to be scattered by 
the winds of earth. 

Old Kewaskum died near Mud lake in the town 
Shields, Dodge county, about the year of 1857, and 
was buried on Indian (now Barber's) island, on 
Rock River, about four miles north of Hustisford. 
His body was dug up by a doctor and some others 
in the summer of 1878, and his beads, ornaments 
and other relics worn by him at burial are now in 
the hands of a party in Hartford. Old Monches 
died about the year of 1848, while living by the 
Oconomowoc river near the residence of the late 
John Whelan of Erin. Nearly thirty years later 
some curiosity seekers found his grave, and some 
others of his tribe, on a little knoll about a half 
mile east from the village that bears his name. 
They unearthed his remains and those of others and 
left their bones uncovered, where they lay until a 
hand more humanely disposed reinterred them. But 
while the graves of these noble chiefs were desecrated, 



246 HOLY HILL. 

yet their names were made lasting; for each has 
a place in Washington County named after him; 
Kewaskum near the north, and Monches on the 
south, county line. 

From the foregoing it is seen that there is a 
number of circumstances connected with Holy Hill, 
which argues a strong probability of its having been 
visited b} r the French missionaries as early as, or 
previous to, 1679. But in the absence of authentic 
proof, it may not be admitted as a historical fact. 
Be that as it may, the place has since gained a 
history and a notoriety that time will never oblit- 
erate. Those who visit the place, although they 
may not be christians, are deeply impressed with its 
beauties, natural and artificial. To the christian, 
devout and sincere, there are but few places that 
will call from them greater homage or more adora- 
tion than Holy Hill. As evidence of the gratitude 
for blessings received, by devout christians, the 
following "thank offering," b}- one who received 
favors at the hill, is submitted: 



ORA PRO NOBIS. 

Hail Mary! Queen of Earth and Heaven. 
Thou priceless boon to mortals given! 
To this, Thy favored Holy shrine, 
Thy children come from every clime. 
"Health of the sick." to Thee we fly. 
In mercy listen to our cry; 
"Hail, full of grace! Blessed art Thou" 
Low at Thy feet we humbly bow. 

Ora Pro Nobis. 



TRADITIONAL. 24 

Mary, "Help of Christians,'' see 
The suffering ones who eorne to Thee. 
Along the narrow, winding way 
Each weary pilgrim halts to pray. 
Listen! The prayer ascends e'en now, 
'■Hail, Mary! blest indeed art Thou," 
Was ever music half so sweet — 
The echoing prayer of this retreat? 

Ora Pro Nobis. 

'•Mother of Christ" — "Mother most pure," 
Thy promises are always sure. 
'•Virgin most prudent — most renowned," 
With honor by our Saviour crowned. 
"Hail, Mary, Hail, blessed art thou" 
Before Thee men and angels bow, 
While through the earth resounds the prayer. 
Sweet mother grant Thy gracious care. 
Ora Pro Nobis. 

Thou art above all others blest; — 

For see, on all Thy altars rest 

Earth's fairest flowers — Emblems of love. 

Sancta Maria, from above 

On all who seek this Holy place 

Bestow a gift of Heavenly grace. 

Protect and comfort every child 

Who prays, "Hail Mary undented! 

Ora Pro Nobis ." 

Mattie French Cressey. 



PRE-HISTORIC. 



\ x /isconsin, perhaps more than any other state 
* * in the Union, furnishes positive proof of the 
existence of a race of people who once inhabited this 
continent, but which have long since become extinct 
and are absolutely lost to history; a race which, 
from all the evidence we can command, did not differ 
essentially in form, size and proclivity from our own; 
certainh', not more than do we from the aboriginees 
that have been driven from the domain which we 
now possess. 

Positive evidence of this lost tribe, or "pre- 
historic men," as some writers term them, is found 
in the tumuli or earth-mounds which they built 
and which proA-ed to be more lasting than they. 
These structures which they erected and left to time 
and our wonder and contemplation, are found dis- 
tributed over the greater part of the state. In 
nearly every instance we find that their locations 
were advantageously chosen with reference to ease 
of transportation, observation and defense. Gener- 
ally they are found upon the high and steep banks 
of the larger rivers and lakes. 



PRE-HISTORIC. 249 

Some of the mounds appear to have been built 
as receptacles for the dead, while others are supposed 
to have been altars of worship. Some are built in 
the form of beasts, birds and reptiles, and even some 
are in profile of a man or a woman. Many of these 
earthworks resemble fortifications and to all appear- 
ances were used as places of refuge and defense from 
other tribes. In the construction of many there is 
seen a marked regularity in form, plan and detail, 
showing a commendable degree of engineering skill 
on the part of the builders, and which compares 
favorably with the accepted ideas of modern forti- 
fication. 

For the reason that it must have taken a race of 
people, possessed of ordinary genius, to construct 
such huge and lasting monuments as are found, and 
for the further reason that it required a vast amount 
of labor, is precluded the faintest surmise that they 
were ever built hv the Indian tribes; but rather is 
shown that they must have been the work of a more 
enlightened and energetic race. No Indian was ever 
known to have any conception of building, further 
than to construct a rude and temporary wigwam , and 
as to labor, he abhorred that above all things else. 

Not alone these mounds, we find other evidence 
of the existence of this ancient race, showing very 
conclusively that they lived in an age more remote, 
and that they were possessed of a degree of civiliza- 
tion far in advance of their dusky and indolent 
followers. This evidence is seen in the many articles 
of domestic use that are found scattered over the 
surface of the ground in maii3 r localities throughout 
the state; particularly those utensils which are made 



250 HOLY HILL. 

from stone and copper. These relics of the lost race 
include a variety of implements such as axes, knives, 
drills, needles, spades, mauls, chisels, lances, spear 
points, arrow heads and many more. Those 
fashioned from copper are often finely wrought and 
some are hardened by pressure, the only method yet 
known to us for hardening that peculiar metal. 

At various times specimens of these implements 
have been submitted to the Indians for examination, 
and they were questioned as to whether they had 
any knowledge or tradition of their origin. In 
every instance they have been free to admit that 
they knew nothing as to the cause of their presence 
here, nor anything of those who made them. For 
the reason that the prior race of men built so many 
wonderful and lasting mounds, the learned arch- 
aeologists have given them the name of "mound 
builders," but by what name they were known at 
the date of their existence the most profound anti- 
quarian has failed to discover. 

There were many traces of the mound builders 
still extant in Washington county when the early 
settlers first came in, though these have since been 
nearly all obliterated, either by cultivation, or the 
persistent delving of the curiosity and relic seeker. 
There is no evidence that this early race ever dwelt 
in the vicinity of Holy Hill, for not a single mound, 
after their style, was ever discovered in the town of 
Erin. Though their homes might not have been 
there, still there is plenty of evidence that this was 
either their favorite hunting ground or a territory 
much coveted, and perhaps the scene of many 
contests. This conclusion is reached from the fact 



PRE-HISTORIC. 251 

that there have been more stone and copper imple- 
ments found, within a radius of five miles from Hoi}' 
Hill, than within any other equal area of ground in 
the state. The writer has alone, within the past 
twenty years, secured over fifty fine copper specimens 
that were picked up near the hill, in addition to 
which, other relic hunters, notably, F. S. Perkins of 
Burlington, Wis., and W. C. Wyman of Chicago, 111. 
have carried away a large number which they pur- 
chased from farmers residing near the hill. 

The nearest mounds to Holy Hill, yet discovered, 
were on the north shore of Pike Lake, just five miles, 
nearly due north . These were very prominent when 
the country was first settled, but they are all now 
so completely leveled that none, excepting the very 
earliest settlers, could point out the place where they 
once stood. They were located on the south point 
of the north shore of the lake, just back of where the 
ice houses now stand, and where the bank rises 
abruptly from the water's edge to a height of forty 
feet. They were built like a fortification, enclosing 
about an acre of land. These ancient earthworks 
were in a good state of preservation as late as 1856, 
and in that year the writer made a survey of them. 
The accompanying plat, which is eighty feet to the 
inch, is a fair representation as they then existed. 
The large mound in the extreme southeast corner, 
was then fifteen feet high and sixty feet in diameter 
at the base. From its commanding position, stand- 
ing on the top, every point of the lake could be 
readily seen. To the west were two smaller ones, 
the last being turtle shaped with head to the lake. 
From the tip of the turtle's tail a well defined 



252 



HOLY HILL. 



wall of earth extended east to the steep bank of the 
lake's shore completing the enclosure. 




> 




A number of other mounds were found in Wash- 
ington county by the early settlers, principally on 
the Milwaukee river in the towns of Trenton, Bar- 
ton and Kewaskum. Though there are many beau- 



PRE-HISTORIC. 253 

tiful lakes in the vicinity of Hoty Hill, as Fries' lake, 
two miles east, Loew's lake, two miles south and 
McConville's and Murphy's lakes two miles south- 
west, yet around the margin of either of these lakes, 
no trace of any works of the mound builders was 
ever discovered. 

On the banks of Rock River, some fifteen miles to 
the west, these mounds are numerous and of pro- 
digious size. Just east from Hustisford, where a 
small stream empties into the "rapids" of that river, 
is a steep bank rising to the height of over a hundred 
feet. On this high bluff are thirteen large mounds 
standing in a direct line north and south. In the fall 
of 1867, while returning from a days hunting, the 
writer chanced to pass by this long row of mounds. 
Evidently some one had just been searching in one of 
them, for the earth removed was fresh. They had 
cut a trench from the outside which penetrated to 
the center and base. Near the pile of earth which 
had been thrown out lay seventeen skulls. The sun 
was sinking in the west and, when twilight ushered 
in the night, we were left in darkness and alone, to 
contemplate on the surrounding dead of ages past. 
It was fitting time for solemn reverie and musing, 
and we called the place Butte des Morts — The hill 
of the dead. 



"'^cs^^ 5 " 



BUTTE DES MORTS. 



As the fast setting sun its last rays is shedding 
O'er a landscape to beauty and grandeur allied, 

Alone by the mounds of the ancients I'm treading, 
And wonder what years have elapsed since they died. 

Before me Rock river runs rapid, and leaping 
Over rocks that for ages obstructed its flow, 

And I feel that the tribe, who around me is sleeping. 
Oft gazed on this scene in the dim long ago. 

Perhaps on this high elevation of grandeur, 
On the orient bank of this beautiful stream, 

As sentries they stood, while guarding from danger 
Their tribe against foes that were lurking unseen. 

And oft on this hill, by rude breast works protected. 

Like heroes have fought to the last for their home; 
'Mid death and disaster, yet cool and collected, 

Struck homethe death blows with their weapons of stone! 



PRE-HISTORIC. 255 

Perhaps some dark youth, fired by love and devotion, 
Enticed his rude maiden apart from the tribe, 

To the spot where I'm standing, and told with emotion 
His tale of true love, as she clung to his side. 

How they lived or they loved, how came or departed, 

Is only conjecture to us that are now; 
If hero or coward, if true or false-hearted — 

We know they existed but cannot tell how. 

For the long flight of years, by ages, we number, 
Since they roamed o'er these hills and valleys between; 

Erected these mounds, where they silently slumber, 
Yet left us no records when quitting the scene. 

In vain may we delve in these mounds and uncover 
Their mould'ring forms — All our efforts are vain, 

For science and research shall fail to discover 
Their origin— When they departed or came. 

Bleep on then, lost tribe, for a mightier nation 
Than yours has since met with a similar fate; 

like you, have been swept from the face of creation. 
B} r us who must follow them, sooner or late. 

How vain then, proud man, all thy boast and ambition, 
How frail are the structures you're building to stay! 

Convulsions of nature may hurl to perdition 
Your works, ere the sun has awakened the da v. 



Then sleep in contentment, securely forever, 
No mortal that's living your mission shall guess; 

Here safe be thy rest, on the banks of Rock river, 
No spot in creation more lovely than this. 



256 HOLY HILL. 

But the shadows of night are falling around me. 

Obscuring my vision, all nature is still: 
And fain would I leave, but the spell that has bound me 

Compels me to linger awhile on the hill. 



•-• 



The sun has withdrawn, but the moon is now shining 
? Tis painting this picture with splendor anew; 

Each star pays its tribute, together combining, 
Hath rendered each object distinct to my view. 

Now I list to sound of the murm'ring river 
As it flows o'er the rocks and never is still, 

While above and beyond and blending together, 
I hear the low hum of the wheel in the mill. 



Mid this scene and the music of waters I leave you. 
With a sense of true beauty, you chose your last bed, 

Though men who now live, of the mounds may relieve you. 
And level the tombs on the Jiills of the dead. 

When the trumpet is sounded by angels, compelling 
Us all to come forth, and when time is no more, 

You'll rise from the depths of your last earthly dwelling 
And stand with the rest on the grand Buttp ties Morts. 




